LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Supreme Court on Friday upheld a Topeka man's conviction in the shooting deaths of three people in Lawrence n 2017.

Anthony L. Roberts Jr., was convicted on June 25, 2019 in the deaths, which occurred after a fight between two groups of people from Topeka erupted into gunfire, with more than 20 shots fired.

The jury found Roberts guilty of one count of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted second-degree murder.

The court on Friday rejected Roberts' argument that the Douglas County District Court judge should have instructed the jury that they could consider convicting him of voluntary manslaughter. The court also ruled the evidence was sufficient to uphold Roberts’ convictions.

Colwin L. Henderson III, 20, of Topeka; Leah E. Brown, 22, of Shawnee; and Tre’Mel D. Dean-Rayton, 24, of Topeka, were killed. Tahzay Rayton, of Topeka, survived after being shot twice.

Brown was the only shooting victim who didn’t know anyone involved in the fight, The Lawrence Journal-World reported.

Two co-defendants — Ahmad Malik Rayton, 23, of Topeka, and Dominique Jacquez McMillon, 20, of Topeka — pleaded to lesser charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643997050923.png" alt="Roberts-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Roberts-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Supreme Court on Friday upheld a Topeka man's conviction in the shooting deaths of three people in Lawrence n 2017.Anthony L. Roberts Jr., was convicted on June 25, 2019 in the deaths, which occurred after a fight between two groups of people from Topeka erupted into gunfire, with more than 20 shots fired.The jury found Roberts guilty of one count of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted second-degree murder.The court on Friday rejected Roberts' argument that the Douglas County District Court judge should have instructed the jury that they could consider convicting him of voluntary manslaughter. The court also ruled the evidence was sufficient to uphold Roberts’ convictions.Colwin L. Henderson III, 20, of Topeka; Leah E. Brown, 22, of Shawnee; and Tre’Mel D. Dean-Rayton, 24, of Topeka, were killed. Tahzay Rayton, of Topeka, survived after being shot twice.Brown was the only shooting victim who didn’t know anyone involved in the fight, The Lawrence Journal-World reported.Two co-defendants — Ahmad Malik Rayton, 23, of Topeka, and Dominique Jacquez McMillon, 20, of Topeka — pleaded to lesser charges.

Court upholds conviction in Kan. triple-fatal gunfight

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Authorities say a wood burning stove caused a Kansas house fire.

Just after 8p.m. Friday, fire crews&nbsp;responded to the fire in a home at 1603 SW Western Avenue in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.

As they arrived, crews found smoke and flames coming from the first and second floor windows of a 2-story house.&nbsp; A search of the structure revealed no occupants inside. All occupants were able to escape.

A preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire as Accidental, associated with the malfunction of a wood burning stove. The estimated dollar loss – $18,000; $15,000 of which is associated with structural loss, and $3,000 is associated with contents loss.

Investigators did not find working smoke detectors in the home, according to Harrison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644080394314.png" alt="Friday night house fire in Topeka-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Friday night house fire in Topeka-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Authorities say a wood burning stove caused a Kansas house fire.Just after 8p.m. Friday, fire crews&nbsp;responded to the fire in a home at 1603 SW Western Avenue in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Todd Harrison.As they arrived, crews found smoke and flames coming from the first and second floor windows of a 2-story house.&nbsp; A search of the structure revealed no occupants inside. All occupants were able to escape.A preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire as Accidental, associated with the malfunction of a wood burning stove. The estimated dollar loss – $18,000; $15,000 of which is associated with structural loss, and $3,000 is associated with contents loss.Investigators did not find working smoke detectors in the home, according to Harrison.

Fire Marshal: Wood burning stove caused Kan. house fire

RILEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred after a man was shot and killed early Saturday morning in Manhattan, according to a media release from the KBI.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, three officers from RCPD were working in the police substation in Aggieville when they heard gunshots. The officers immediately responded in the direction of the gunfire.

When they arrived outside a bar near 12th&nbsp;and Moro St., they found a 21-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound. They also observed an armed man nearby who ran from the area. Two officers chased the suspect on foot, while the third officer remained with the shooting victim and rendered first-aid. The victim was later identified as Joshua J. Wardi, 21, of Fort Riley.

Preliminary information indicates that as the armed suspect fled, he turned the corner onto 12th&nbsp;St. During the foot chase, one of the RCPD officers fired two rounds at the suspect, striking him in the leg, and causing him to stop part way down the block, between Moro Street and Laramie Street. Officers secured the handgun and provided medical assistance. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.

The shooting suspect was identified as Tremelle R. Montgomery, 19, of Fort Riley. EMS transported him to Ascension Via Christi hospital in Manhattan where he was then transferred to a Topeka hospital. Montgomery is currently in fair and stable condition. Wardi was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The investigation suggests that earlier Friday night Wardi and Montgomery patronized the same bar in Aggieville. Later, while visiting outside in separate groups of friends, they engaged in a verbal altercation. At that time witnesses say Montgomery pulled out a gun and shot Wardi.

Anyone who witnessed either shooting is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Tips can also be submitted online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar" target="_blank">https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar</a>.

MANHATTAN, KAN. –&nbsp;A Ft. Riley man died after apparently being shot by another Ft. Riley man in the 1100 block of Moro Street in Manhattan, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.

The 19-year-old shooting suspect is in stable condition after being shot by an RCPD officer following the apparent homicide.

Officers located in the 1100 block of Moro responded to the sound of gunshots in the immediate area around 12:32 a.m. on Saturday, February 5. The officers found a 21-year-old male victim on the sidewalk suffering from apparent gunshot wound(s), he was later pronounced deceased on scene.

The 19-year-old male was taken into custody after being shot by an RCPD officer, then transported to Via Christi in Manhattan, and later to Topeka for further treatment. 

Per department policy, the RCPD officers directly involved have been placed on paid, non-disciplinary&nbsp;administrative leave. To ensure transparency and an impartial investigation, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) will be the lead agency investigating both shootings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644087068240.png" alt="Scene of the investigation Saturday in Manhattan-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the investigation Saturday in Manhattan-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred after a man was shot and killed early Saturday morning in Manhattan, according to a media release from the KBI.At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, three officers from RCPD were working in the police substation in Aggieville when they heard gunshots. The officers immediately responded in the direction of the gunfire.When they arrived outside a bar near 12th&nbsp;and Moro St., they found a 21-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound. They also observed an armed man nearby who ran from the area. Two officers chased the suspect on foot, while the third officer remained with the shooting victim and rendered first-aid. The victim was later identified as Joshua J. Wardi, 21, of Fort Riley.Preliminary information indicates that as the armed suspect fled, he turned the corner onto 12th&nbsp;St. During the foot chase, one of the RCPD officers fired two rounds at the suspect, striking him in the leg, and causing him to stop part way down the block, between Moro Street and Laramie Street. Officers secured the handgun and provided medical assistance. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.The shooting suspect was identified as Tremelle R. Montgomery, 19, of Fort Riley. EMS transported him to Ascension Via Christi hospital in Manhattan where he was then transferred to a Topeka hospital. Montgomery is currently in fair and stable condition. Wardi was pronounced deceased at the scene.The investigation suggests that earlier Friday night Wardi and Montgomery patronized the same bar in Aggieville. Later, while visiting outside in separate groups of friends, they engaged in a verbal altercation. At that time witnesses say Montgomery pulled out a gun and shot Wardi.Anyone who witnessed either shooting is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Tips can also be submitted online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar" target="_blank">https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar</a>.----------MANHATTAN, KAN. –&nbsp;A Ft. Riley man died after apparently being shot by another Ft. Riley man in the 1100 block of Moro Street in Manhattan, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.The 19-year-old shooting suspect is in stable condition after being shot by an RCPD officer following the apparent homicide.Officers located in the 1100 block of Moro responded to the sound of gunshots in the immediate area around 12:32 a.m. on Saturday, February 5. The officers found a 21-year-old male victim on the sidewalk suffering from apparent gunshot wound(s), he was later pronounced deceased on scene.The 19-year-old male was taken into custody after being shot by an RCPD officer, then transported to Via Christi in Manhattan, and later to Topeka for further treatment. Per department policy, the RCPD officers directly involved have been placed on paid, non-disciplinary&nbsp;administrative leave. To ensure transparency and an impartial investigation, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) will be the lead agency investigating both shootings.

Police ID homicide victim, suspect in Manhattan officer-shooting

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran joined his colleagues in questioning Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding the movement of illegal immigrants from the border to be released into American communities.

<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/f/7/f71ad1df-94a0-417d-80ba-ada59601afa8/74C85B63DFEF947B667F67ED7D19BFE9.2.3.22---letter-to-sec-mayorkas-on-midnight-flights.pdf" target="_blank">Click here</a>&nbsp;to read the letter&nbsp;

According to recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-footage-single-adult-migrants-released-us" target="_blank">reports</a>, ICE has been releasing large numbers of single adult illegal immigrants into our American communities. After being processed en masse at makeshift border facilities, these illegal immigrants are being&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ice-removal-operations-turned-into-unofficial-travel-coordination-agency-source-says" target="_blank">loaded</a>&nbsp;onto planes and shuttled across the country for release.

“In light of the public reporting around ‘midnight flights’ of illegal immigrants, we request a full accounting of your Department’s activities so that we can understand the scope of this challenge,”&nbsp;wrote the senators.&nbsp;“We are concerned that the use of these midnight flights by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is intended to obfuscate the Administration’s failure to secure our borders and protect hardworking, law-abiding Americans.”

“It is deeply troubling to learn, according to an ICE source, that at a time when millions of Americans are struggling with inflation, their hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being used to transport illegal immigrants across the country, including dangerous criminal aliens,”&nbsp;the senators continued.&nbsp;“This appears to contradict the guidance you issued in September 2021, where you stated that a ‘noncitizen who poses a current threat to public safety, typically because of serious criminal conduct, is a priority for apprehension and removal.’”

“We are alarmed by the reports of mass release of criminal illegal immigrants into our communities under the cover of darkness. The American people deserve answers to why their taxpayer dollars are being used to fly illegal immigrants across the country to be released into our backyards. Public safety and national security are on the line,”&nbsp;the senators concluded.

The letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643988181432.png" alt="Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during a budget hearing photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during a budget hearing photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran joined his colleagues in questioning Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding the movement of illegal immigrants from the border to be released into American communities.<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/f/7/f71ad1df-94a0-417d-80ba-ada59601afa8/74C85B63DFEF947B667F67ED7D19BFE9.2.3.22---letter-to-sec-mayorkas-on-midnight-flights.pdf" target="_blank">Click here</a>&nbsp;to read the letter&nbsp;According to recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-footage-single-adult-migrants-released-us" target="_blank">reports</a>, ICE has been releasing large numbers of single adult illegal immigrants into our American communities. After being processed en masse at makeshift border facilities, these illegal immigrants are being&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ice-removal-operations-turned-into-unofficial-travel-coordination-agency-source-says" target="_blank">loaded</a>&nbsp;onto planes and shuttled across the country for release.“In light of the public reporting around ‘midnight flights’ of illegal immigrants, we request a full accounting of your Department’s activities so that we can understand the scope of this challenge,”&nbsp;wrote the senators.&nbsp;“We are concerned that the use of these midnight flights by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is intended to obfuscate the Administration’s failure to secure our borders and protect hardworking, law-abiding Americans.”“It is deeply troubling to learn, according to an ICE source, that at a time when millions of Americans are struggling with inflation, their hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being used to transport illegal immigrants across the country, including dangerous criminal aliens,”&nbsp;the senators continued.&nbsp;“This appears to contradict the guidance you issued in September 2021, where you stated that a ‘noncitizen who poses a current threat to public safety, typically because of serious criminal conduct, is a priority for apprehension and removal.’”“We are alarmed by the reports of mass release of criminal illegal immigrants into our communities under the cover of darkness. The American people deserve answers to why their taxpayer dollars are being used to fly illegal immigrants across the country to be released into our backyards. Public safety and national security are on the line,”&nbsp;the senators concluded.The letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.)

Moran asks why illegal immigrants are being released into communities

WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Joe Biden met with U.S. governors at the White House this week, he was the only one given a glass of water — lest anyone else remove their mask to take a drink.

The president was seated more than 10 feet from everyone, including Vice President Kamala Harris and members of his Cabinet.

A White House staffer who was wearing a surgical mask when Biden entered the room was quickly handed an N95 version.

These are just some of the extraordinary efforts on the part of the White House to keep the president from getting COVID-19, even though he’s gotten both of his regular vaccinations and his booster.

It’s no surprise that unusual steps are taken to protect any president. But the strict precautions could also threaten to undercut the Biden administration’s own efforts to tell Americans — especially those who are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-moderna-vaccine-approved-dc6f5ac9eeb31667d5a28f0954335b65">vaccinated and boosted</a>&nbsp;— that they can get on with something closer to their normal lives&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/long-covid-omicron-research-45986f5b42e47e656d5b385bd51b2bb2">in the face of the omicron wave.</a>

And it’s emblematic of the messaging challenges surrounding the administration’s approach to COVID-19 as the virus becomes endemic, familiar and somewhat controlled but still menacing, with hard-to-follow guidelines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-new-orleans-be05bf784db523aab6ff1645616e762a">often unevenly implemented</a>.

For months, Biden aides have fretted that the people who are most protected against COVID-19 remain the most cautious, a dynamic they view as a drag on the nation’s economic and psychological recovery.

When the highly transmissible omicron variant hit, Biden said it was a “cause for concern, not cause for panic.”

In recent weeks, his aides and science advisers have highlighted study after study showing the strong protection offered by the COVID vaccines against the variant and reassuring vaccinated people they can go about their daily lives. At a Jan. 19 press conference, Biden declared: “We have the tools — vaccines, boosters, masks, tests, pills — to save lives and keep businesses and schools open” and rejected the notion that still-widespread restrictions reflect a “’new normal.”

Since even before Biden was elected, his aides have gone all-out to protect the now-79-year-old president from potential infection. He spent much of the 2020 campaign season holding remote events from a studio in the basement of his home, venturing out for travel in a bubble of frequently tested aides subject to an array of restrictions.

That caution continued well after he was fully vaccinated and living at the White House. The president has held up his administration’s fidelity to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines as a virtue, after they were regularly flouted by former President Donald Trump, who became seriously ill after contracting the virus.

As the nation’s virus response and vaccination campaign has become increasingly politicized, White House officials have expressed both political and policy concerns over a possible Biden infection. Though the vaccines are highly effective, a breakthrough case could erode public confidence in the shots and be used as a political cudgel against a president who was elected to bring an end to the pandemic.

Biden himself has at times taken a more relaxed approach to restrictions.

When the CDC last May surprised the White House by easing its guidelines on indoor mask-wearing by fully vaccinated individuals, Biden sought to publicly model the policy for the rest of the nation. He was meeting with vaccinated Republican lawmakers when the change was announced and led the group in removing their masks.

But that CDC guidance proved to be premature and was reversed over the summer, because vaccinated people could still transmit the virus, potentially endangering the tens of millions of Americans who are still unvaccinated.

When the delta strain surged last fall, the White House strengthened its testing protocols for everyone close to Biden — restrictions that had been lessened once aides were fully vaccinated and case counts began to fall nationally. In-person meetings were once again curtailed. Aides began increasing the distance between Biden and even vaccinated-and-tested individuals as a precaution, reminiscent of his earliest days in office.

In early January, as the nation’s capital led the country in per capita COVID-19 cases, White House press secretary Jen Psaki highlighted the “very strict precautions” taken to keep Biden and Harris safe, including mandatory mask-wearing and daily testing for those coming in contact with them.

She also said the White House had taken to limiting gatherings “to under 30 people.” But there were nearly 40 participants named by the administration — as well as two dozen members of the press — at Biden’s Monday meeting with the governors.

Psaki said the administration takes extra precautions any time the president removes his mask to speak to a group. She noted that the nation continues to set records in reported cases and hospital admissions.

“The president’s view is that right now we still need to keep our heads down and stay at it to fight what is still surging in parts of the country,” she said. “But we do have the tools to get to a point where it does not disrupt our daily lives.”

Biden, aides say, has relished opportunities outside the White House when he can engage in the sort of political glad-handing that has been suppressed by the pandemic. And in public, he’s chafed at some of the precautions, saying that the first thing he aims to do differently in his second year in the White House is “I’m going to get out of this place more often.”

On Monday, seated across a large gap from Biden in the East Room, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, the chair of the governors’ association, appealed for the government to more clearly define a pathway out of the pandemic.

“We need the CDC to help us to have the right standards to end this pandemic and move to more endemic status,” he said. “We want to go from today to more normal.”

The night before, the president and first lady Jill Biden did attend the black-tie National Governors Association dinner at Mount Vernon. Biden spoke, but he didn’t stay for dinner.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643714792801.png" alt="The president was seated more than 10 feet from everyone, including Vice President Kamala Harris and members of his Cabinet-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>The president was seated more than 10 feet from everyone, including Vice President Kamala Harris and members of his Cabinet-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Joe Biden met with U.S. governors at the White House this week, he was the only one given a glass of water — lest anyone else remove their mask to take a drink.The president was seated more than 10 feet from everyone, including Vice President Kamala Harris and members of his Cabinet.A White House staffer who was wearing a surgical mask when Biden entered the room was quickly handed an N95 version.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643974310025.png" alt="The president was seated at a distance from everyone, including Attorney General Garland during his stop in New York Thursday-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>The president was seated at a distance from everyone, including Attorney General Garland during his stop in New York Thursday-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>These are just some of the extraordinary efforts on the part of the White House to keep the president from getting COVID-19, even though he’s gotten both of his regular vaccinations and his booster.It’s no surprise that unusual steps are taken to protect any president. But the strict precautions could also threaten to undercut the Biden administration’s own efforts to tell Americans — especially those who are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-moderna-vaccine-approved-dc6f5ac9eeb31667d5a28f0954335b65">vaccinated and boosted</a>&nbsp;— that they can get on with something closer to their normal lives&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/long-covid-omicron-research-45986f5b42e47e656d5b385bd51b2bb2">in the face of the omicron wave.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643815123727.png" alt="The Bidens during a Lunar New Year celebration Tuesday-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The Bidens during a Lunar New Year celebration Tuesday-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>And it’s emblematic of the messaging challenges surrounding the administration’s approach to COVID-19 as the virus becomes endemic, familiar and somewhat controlled but still menacing, with hard-to-follow guidelines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-new-orleans-be05bf784db523aab6ff1645616e762a">often unevenly implemented</a>.For months, Biden aides have fretted that the people who are most protected against COVID-19 remain the most cautious, a dynamic they view as a drag on the nation’s economic and psychological recovery.When the highly transmissible omicron variant hit, Biden said it was a “cause for concern, not cause for panic.”In recent weeks, his aides and science advisers have highlighted study after study showing the strong protection offered by the COVID vaccines against the variant and reassuring vaccinated people they can go about their daily lives. At a Jan. 19 press conference, Biden declared: “We have the tools — vaccines, boosters, masks, tests, pills — to save lives and keep businesses and schools open” and rejected the notion that still-widespread restrictions reflect a “’new normal.”“It will get better,” he promised.Since even before Biden was elected, his aides have gone all-out to protect the now-79-year-old president from potential infection. He spent much of the 2020 campaign season holding remote events from a studio in the basement of his home, venturing out for travel in a bubble of frequently tested aides subject to an array of restrictions.That caution continued well after he was fully vaccinated and living at the White House. The president has held up his administration’s fidelity to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines as a virtue, after they were regularly flouted by former President Donald Trump, who became seriously ill after contracting the virus.As the nation’s virus response and vaccination campaign has become increasingly politicized, White House officials have expressed both political and policy concerns over a possible Biden infection. Though the vaccines are highly effective, a breakthrough case could erode public confidence in the shots and be used as a political cudgel against a president who was elected to bring an end to the pandemic.Biden himself has at times taken a more relaxed approach to restrictions.When the CDC last May surprised the White House by easing its guidelines on indoor mask-wearing by fully vaccinated individuals, Biden sought to publicly model the policy for the rest of the nation. He was meeting with vaccinated Republican lawmakers when the change was announced and led the group in removing their masks.But that CDC guidance proved to be premature and was reversed over the summer, because vaccinated people could still transmit the virus, potentially endangering the tens of millions of Americans who are still unvaccinated.When the delta strain surged last fall, the White House strengthened its testing protocols for everyone close to Biden — restrictions that had been lessened once aides were fully vaccinated and case counts began to fall nationally. In-person meetings were once again curtailed. Aides began increasing the distance between Biden and even vaccinated-and-tested individuals as a precaution, reminiscent of his earliest days in office.In early January, as the nation’s capital led the country in per capita COVID-19 cases, White House press secretary Jen Psaki highlighted the “very strict precautions” taken to keep Biden and Harris safe, including mandatory mask-wearing and daily testing for those coming in contact with them.She also said the White House had taken to limiting gatherings “to under 30 people.” But there were nearly 40 participants named by the administration — as well as two dozen members of the press — at Biden’s Monday meeting with the governors.Psaki said the administration takes extra precautions any time the president removes his mask to speak to a group. She noted that the nation continues to set records in reported cases and hospital admissions.“The president’s view is that right now we still need to keep our heads down and stay at it to fight what is still surging in parts of the country,” she said. “But we do have the tools to get to a point where it does not disrupt our daily lives.”Biden, aides say, has relished opportunities outside the White House when he can engage in the sort of political glad-handing that has been suppressed by the pandemic. And in public, he’s chafed at some of the precautions, saying that the first thing he aims to do differently in his second year in the White House is “I’m going to get out of this place more often.”He’s hardly alone in his impatience.On Monday, seated across a large gap from Biden in the East Room, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, the chair of the governors’ association, appealed for the government to more clearly define a pathway out of the pandemic.“We need the CDC to help us to have the right standards to end this pandemic and move to more endemic status,” he said. “We want to go from today to more normal.”The night before, the president and first lady Jill Biden did attend the black-tie National Governors Association dinner at Mount Vernon. Biden spoke, but he didn’t stay for dinner.

All-out effort to keep Biden COVID-free; no 'normal' yet

RENO COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just after 4p.m. Friday in Reno County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford Mustang driven by Matthew H. Monroe, 17, Nickerson, was southbound on Kansas 14 three miles south of Nickerson. 

When traffic was slowing down, the Ford rear-ended a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant driven by Alexander K. Dennis, 30, Junction City.&nbsp; The impact forced the Mitsubishi to enter into the northbound lanes.&nbsp;

A northbound 2006 Peterbilt semi driven by Clarence R. Messick, 60, Saint John, struck the Mitsubishi.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Mitsubishi then struck the trailer of a 2009 Chevy Suburban driven by Jeffery W. Mehl, 52, Hutchinson.

After impact, the semi continued north, jackknifed on the west shoulder and struck a 2022 Ram truck driven by Casey D. Gamble, 38, Hutchinson.

EMS transported Dennis and Messick to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center where Dennis was pronounced dead. A passenger in the Mitsubishi 13-year-old Teagan Lomax of South Hutchison, was pronounced dead at the scene.

 Monroe, Mehl, 5 passengers in the Chevy and Gamble were not injured. The occupants of the Mitsubishi were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1563104261595.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just after 4p.m. Friday in Reno County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford Mustang driven by Matthew H. Monroe, 17, Nickerson, was southbound on Kansas 14 three miles south of Nickerson. When traffic was slowing down, the Ford rear-ended a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant driven by Alexander K. Dennis, 30, Junction City.&nbsp; The impact forced the Mitsubishi to enter into the northbound lanes.&nbsp;A northbound 2006 Peterbilt semi driven by Clarence R. Messick, 60, Saint John, struck the Mitsubishi.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Mitsubishi then struck the trailer of a 2009 Chevy Suburban driven by Jeffery W. Mehl, 52, Hutchinson.After impact, the semi continued north, jackknifed on the west shoulder and struck a 2022 Ram truck driven by Casey D. Gamble, 38, Hutchinson.EMS transported Dennis and Messick to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center where Dennis was pronounced dead. A passenger in the Mitsubishi 13-year-old Teagan Lomax of South Hutchison, was pronounced dead at the scene. Monroe, Mehl, 5 passengers in the Chevy and Gamble were not injured. The occupants of the Mitsubishi were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Kansas man, 13-year-old dead after 5-vehicle crash

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Kansas City police detective is asking to remain free on bond while his conviction in the shooting death of a Black man is appealed.

Eric DeValkenaere, 43, is scheduled to be sentenced March 4 for second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the December 2019 death of Cameron Lamb.

His attorneys filed a motion Monday arguing that DeValkenaere should be allowed to remain free because he is not a flight risk and the judge who convicted him found “no evidence of malice” in DeValkenaere’s conduct, KSHB-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/convicted-former-kcpd-detective-formally-petitions-for-post-sentencing-appeal-bond">reported</a>.

DeValkenaere’s conviction carries a mandatory prison term.

DeValkenaere's attorneys had asked Jackson County Circuit Court Presiding Judge J. Dale Youngs during a court hearing last month if he would consider allowing DeValkenaere to remain free during appeal.

Youngs, who presided over DeValkenaere’s bench trial, said at the time that granting the request would be unprecedented in his 13 years on the bench.

DeValkenaere, a white man, testified during his trial that he fired after Lamb pointed a gun at another detective, which other evidence disputed.

Youngs found the officers had no probable cause to believe that Lamb had committed a crime before the shooting, had no arrest warrant and had no search warrant or consent to be on Lamb's property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592994941014.png" alt="Eric DeValkenaere photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Eric DeValkenaere photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Kansas City police detective is asking to remain free on bond while his conviction in the shooting death of a Black man is appealed.Eric DeValkenaere, 43, is scheduled to be sentenced March 4 for second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the December 2019 death of Cameron Lamb.His attorneys filed a motion Monday arguing that DeValkenaere should be allowed to remain free because he is not a flight risk and the judge who convicted him found “no evidence of malice” in DeValkenaere’s conduct, KSHB-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/convicted-former-kcpd-detective-formally-petitions-for-post-sentencing-appeal-bond">reported</a>.DeValkenaere’s conviction carries a mandatory prison term.DeValkenaere's attorneys had asked Jackson County Circuit Court Presiding Judge J. Dale Youngs during a court hearing last month if he would consider allowing DeValkenaere to remain free during appeal.Youngs, who presided over DeValkenaere’s bench trial, said at the time that granting the request would be unprecedented in his 13 years on the bench.DeValkenaere, a white man, testified during his trial that he fired after Lamb pointed a gun at another detective, which other evidence disputed.Youngs found the officers had no probable cause to believe that Lamb had committed a crime before the shooting, had no arrest warrant and had no search warrant or consent to be on Lamb's property.

Ex-KC officer asks to remain free during appeal in shooting death

WASHINGTON (AP) — The military investigation into the deadly attack during the Afghanistan evacuation has concluded that a suicide bomber, carrying 20 pounds of explosives packed with ball bearings, acted alone, and that the deaths of more than 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members were not preventable.

The blast at Abbey Gate outside the Kabul airport on Aug. 26 killed 11 U.S. Marines, a sailor and a soldier, who were screening the thousands of Afghans frantically trying to get onto one of the crowded flights leaving the country after the Taliban takeover. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

At the Pentagon on Friday, military officials laid out a detailed and graphic minute-by-minute account of the bombing. The bottom line, they said, was that those who died had wounds that were “so catastrophic” that they couldn’t be overcome. And they said that earlier thoughts that it was a complex attack involving gunfire turned out to be unfounded.

“A single, explosive device killed at least 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. servicemembers by explosively directing ball bearings through a packed crowd and into our men and women at Abbey gate,” said Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command. “The disturbing lethality of this device was confirmed by the 58 U.S. servicemembers who were killed and wounded despite the universal wear of body armor and helmets that did stop ball bearings that impacted them, but could not prevent catastrophic injuries to areas not covered.”

Investigators said the bomber likely got near the gate by bypassing Taliban and other security checkpoints. They said it appears the Taliban didn’t know of the attack, that security precautions were being taken and that intelligence about potential threats that was circulating that day was not specific.

“Based upon our investigation, at the tactical level this was not preventable,” said Brig. Gen. Lance Curtis, who led the investigation. He added that military leaders on the ground in Kabul followed proper security measures, at times closing the gate or pausing the processing of evacuees.

Military officials said that gunfire after the blast was found to be warning shots fired by U.S. and British troops, and that no one was killed or wounded by gunshots.

McKenzie said the investigation revealed that the ball bearings caused wounds that looked like gunshots. He said some troops in the area fired a number of warning shots, and that led others to believe that the attack also included gunmen.

U.S. military officials have said all along that the U.S. forces at the gates were doing a dangerous job. Overall the U.S.-led coalition evacuated about 126,000 people in about three weeks, and the U.S. left Afghanistan for the last time at about midnight on Aug. 30.

Early on, McKenzie said troops at the gates had to get close to the people they were screening.

“This is close up work. The breath of the person you are searching is upon you,” McKenzie said in August soon after the attack.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630087261414.png" alt="Soldiers with the 82nd Airborn Division escort evacuees at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.-photo Courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Soldiers with the 82nd Airborn Division escort evacuees at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.-photo Courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The military investigation into the deadly attack during the Afghanistan evacuation has concluded that a suicide bomber, carrying 20 pounds of explosives packed with ball bearings, acted alone, and that the deaths of more than 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members were not preventable.The blast at Abbey Gate outside the Kabul airport on Aug. 26 killed 11 U.S. Marines, a sailor and a soldier, who were screening the thousands of Afghans frantically trying to get onto one of the crowded flights leaving the country after the Taliban takeover. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.At the Pentagon on Friday, military officials laid out a detailed and graphic minute-by-minute account of the bombing. The bottom line, they said, was that those who died had wounds that were “so catastrophic” that they couldn’t be overcome. And they said that earlier thoughts that it was a complex attack involving gunfire turned out to be unfounded.“A single, explosive device killed at least 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. servicemembers by explosively directing ball bearings through a packed crowd and into our men and women at Abbey gate,” said Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command. “The disturbing lethality of this device was confirmed by the 58 U.S. servicemembers who were killed and wounded despite the universal wear of body armor and helmets that did stop ball bearings that impacted them, but could not prevent catastrophic injuries to areas not covered.”Investigators said the bomber likely got near the gate by bypassing Taliban and other security checkpoints. They said it appears the Taliban didn’t know of the attack, that security precautions were being taken and that intelligence about potential threats that was circulating that day was not specific.“Based upon our investigation, at the tactical level this was not preventable,” said Brig. Gen. Lance Curtis, who led the investigation. He added that military leaders on the ground in Kabul followed proper security measures, at times closing the gate or pausing the processing of evacuees.Military officials said that gunfire after the blast was found to be warning shots fired by U.S. and British troops, and that no one was killed or wounded by gunshots.McKenzie said the investigation revealed that the ball bearings caused wounds that looked like gunshots. He said some troops in the area fired a number of warning shots, and that led others to believe that the attack also included gunmen.U.S. military officials have said all along that the U.S. forces at the gates were doing a dangerous job. Overall the U.S.-led coalition evacuated about 126,000 people in about three weeks, and the U.S. left Afghanistan for the last time at about midnight on Aug. 30.Early on, McKenzie said troops at the gates had to get close to the people they were screening.“This is close up work. The breath of the person you are searching is upon you,” McKenzie said in August soon after the attack.

Pentagon: Deadly Afghan airport attack was not preventable

By MARK KENNEDY and KEN SWEET, Associated Press

Propelled in part by the wildly contagious omicron variant, the U.S. <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html]">death toll from COVID-19 hit </a>900,000 on Friday, less than two months after eclipsing 800,000.

The two-year total, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Indianapolis, San Francisco, or Charlotte, North Carolina.

The milestone comes more than 13 months into a vaccination drive that has been beset by misinformation and political and legal strife, though the shots have proved safe and highly effective at preventing serious illness and death.

“It is an astronomically high number. If you had told most Americans two years ago as this pandemic was getting going that 900,000 Americans would die over the next few years, I think most people would not have believed it,” said Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.

He lamented that most of the deaths happened after the vaccine gained authorization.

“We got the medical science right. We failed on the social science. We failed on how to help people get vaccinated, to combat disinformation, to not politicize this,” Jha said. “Those are the places where we have failed as America.”

Just 64% of the population is fully vaccinated, or about 212 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We have underestimated our enemy here, and we have under-prepared to protect ourselves,” said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We’ve learned a tremendous amount of humility in the face of a lethal and contagious respiratory virus.”

Nor is COVID-19 finished with the United States. Dr. Andrew Noymer, a professor of public health at the University of California at Irvine, predicted the U.S. will hit 1 million deaths by March 1.

“I think it’s important for us not to be numbed. Each one of those numbers is someone,” said the Rev. Gina Anderson-Cloud, senior pastor of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church in Virginia. “Those are mothers, fathers, children, our elders.”

The milestone came as omicron is loosening its grip on the country.

New cases per day day have plunged by almost half since mid-January, when they hit a record-shattering peak of more than 800,000.

Cases have been declining in 49 out of 50 states over the past two weeks, by Johns Hopkins’ count, and the 50th state, Maine, reported that confirmed infections are falling there, too, dropping sharply over the past week.

Also, the number of Americans in the hospital with COVID-19 has declined 15% since mid-January to about 124,000.

But deaths are still running high at more than 2,400 per day on average, the most since last winter. And deaths per day are on the rise in at least 35 states, reflecting the lag time between when victims become infected and when they succumb.

Still, public health officials have expressed hope that the worst of omicron is coming to an end. While they caution that things could still go bad again and dangerous new variants could emerge, some places are already talking about easing precautions.

Los Angeles County may end outdoor mask requirements in a few weeks, Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said Thursday.

“Post-surge does not imply that the pandemic is over or that transmission is low, or that there will not be unpredictable waves of surges in the future,” she warned.

Despite its wealth and its world-class medical institutions, the U.S. has the highest reported toll of any country, and even then, the real number of lives lost directly or indirectly to the coronavirus is thought to be significantly higher.

Experts believe some COVID-19 deaths have been misattributed to other conditions. And some Americans are thought to have died of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes because they were unable or unwilling to obtain treatment during the crisis.

Anderson-Cloud lost her dementia-stricken father after he was hospitalized for cancer surgery and then isolated in a COVID-19 ward. He went into cardiac arrest, was revived, but died about a week later.

She had planned to be by his bedside, but the rules barred her from going to the hospital. She wonders if his condition was made worse by his isolation. She wonders if he was scared. She wonders how many other cases like his there are.

“There are all these stories and all that pain,” she said.

When the vaccine was rolled out in mid-December 2020, the death toll stood at about 300,000. It hit 600,000 in mid-June 2021 and 700,000 on Oct. 1. On Dec. 14, it reached 800,000.

It took just 51 more days to get to 900,000, the fastest 100,000-death jump since last winter.

The latest 100,000 deaths encompass those caused by both the delta variant and omicron, which began spreading rapidly in December and became the predominant version in the U.S. before the month was out.

While omicron has proved less likely to cause severe illness than delta, the sheer number of people who became infected with omicron contributed to the high number of deaths.

Ja said he and other medical professionals are frustrated that policymakers are seemingly running out of ideas for getting people to roll up their sleeves.

“There aren’t a whole lot of tools left. We need to double down and come up with new ones,” he said.

COVID-19 has become one of the top three causes of death in America, behind the big two — heart disease and cancer. Noymer, at the University of California, said if the mortality rate from COVID-19 continues, it will shave up to two years off U.S. life expectancy.

“We have been fighting among ourselves about tools that actually do save lives. Just the sheer amount of politics and misinformation around vaccines, which are remarkably effective and safe, is staggering,” Sharfstein said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586622276831.png" alt="John Hopkins death toll map" />
 <figcaption>John Hopkins death toll map</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK KENNEDY and KEN SWEET, Associated PressPropelled in part by the wildly contagious omicron variant, the U.S. <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html]">death toll from COVID-19 hit </a>900,000 on Friday, less than two months after eclipsing 800,000.The two-year total, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Indianapolis, San Francisco, or Charlotte, North Carolina.The milestone comes more than 13 months into a vaccination drive that has been beset by misinformation and political and legal strife, though the shots have proved safe and highly effective at preventing serious illness and death.“It is an astronomically high number. If you had told most Americans two years ago as this pandemic was getting going that 900,000 Americans would die over the next few years, I think most people would not have believed it,” said Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.He lamented that most of the deaths happened after the vaccine gained authorization.“We got the medical science right. We failed on the social science. We failed on how to help people get vaccinated, to combat disinformation, to not politicize this,” Jha said. “Those are the places where we have failed as America.”Just 64% of the population is fully vaccinated, or about 212 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“We have underestimated our enemy here, and we have under-prepared to protect ourselves,” said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We’ve learned a tremendous amount of humility in the face of a lethal and contagious respiratory virus.”Nor is COVID-19 finished with the United States. Dr. Andrew Noymer, a professor of public health at the University of California at Irvine, predicted the U.S. will hit 1 million deaths by March 1.“I think it’s important for us not to be numbed. Each one of those numbers is someone,” said the Rev. Gina Anderson-Cloud, senior pastor of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church in Virginia. “Those are mothers, fathers, children, our elders.”The milestone came as omicron is loosening its grip on the country.New cases per day day have plunged by almost half since mid-January, when they hit a record-shattering peak of more than 800,000.Cases have been declining in 49 out of 50 states over the past two weeks, by Johns Hopkins’ count, and the 50th state, Maine, reported that confirmed infections are falling there, too, dropping sharply over the past week.Also, the number of Americans in the hospital with COVID-19 has declined 15% since mid-January to about 124,000.But deaths are still running high at more than 2,400 per day on average, the most since last winter. And deaths per day are on the rise in at least 35 states, reflecting the lag time between when victims become infected and when they succumb.Still, public health officials have expressed hope that the worst of omicron is coming to an end. While they caution that things could still go bad again and dangerous new variants could emerge, some places are already talking about easing precautions.Los Angeles County may end outdoor mask requirements in a few weeks, Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said Thursday.“Post-surge does not imply that the pandemic is over or that transmission is low, or that there will not be unpredictable waves of surges in the future,” she warned.Despite its wealth and its world-class medical institutions, the U.S. has the highest reported toll of any country, and even then, the real number of lives lost directly or indirectly to the coronavirus is thought to be significantly higher.Experts believe some COVID-19 deaths have been misattributed to other conditions. And some Americans are thought to have died of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes because they were unable or unwilling to obtain treatment during the crisis.Anderson-Cloud lost her dementia-stricken father after he was hospitalized for cancer surgery and then isolated in a COVID-19 ward. He went into cardiac arrest, was revived, but died about a week later.She had planned to be by his bedside, but the rules barred her from going to the hospital. She wonders if his condition was made worse by his isolation. She wonders if he was scared. She wonders how many other cases like his there are.“There are all these stories and all that pain,” she said.When the vaccine was rolled out in mid-December 2020, the death toll stood at about 300,000. It hit 600,000 in mid-June 2021 and 700,000 on Oct. 1. On Dec. 14, it reached 800,000.It took just 51 more days to get to 900,000, the fastest 100,000-death jump since last winter.The latest 100,000 deaths encompass those caused by both the delta variant and omicron, which began spreading rapidly in December and became the predominant version in the U.S. before the month was out.While omicron has proved less likely to cause severe illness than delta, the sheer number of people who became infected with omicron contributed to the high number of deaths.Ja said he and other medical professionals are frustrated that policymakers are seemingly running out of ideas for getting people to roll up their sleeves.“There aren’t a whole lot of tools left. We need to double down and come up with new ones,” he said.COVID-19 has become one of the top three causes of death in America, behind the big two — heart disease and cancer. Noymer, at the University of California, said if the mortality rate from COVID-19 continues, it will shave up to two years off U.S. life expectancy.“We have been fighting among ourselves about tools that actually do save lives. Just the sheer amount of politics and misinformation around vaccines, which are remarkably effective and safe, is staggering,” Sharfstein said.He added: “This is the consequence.”

US death toll from COVID-19 hits 900,000, sped by omicron

By KYLIE CAMERON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-02-04/fbi-reviewing-case-of-wichita-teen-who-died-at-a-sedgwick-county-juvenile-facility">Kansas News Service</a>

The FBI is reviewing the case of a 17-year-old who died last year in a Sedgwick County juvenile facility.

County Commissioner David Dennis announced the FBI’s review of Cedric Lofton’s death during a special commission meeting Friday.

The FBI is part of the Department of Justice, which declined to comment on the matter.

Dennis
 said the week of the teen’s death last September, the FBI requested 
information from the county sheriff’s office about the case. The 
information was turned over.

Lofton died while being restrained at
 the facility. His family and authorities have said he was suffering a 
mental health crisis.

Friday’s announcement comes as advocates 
call for a Department of Justice investigation into possible civil 
rights violations in Lofton’s death.

“It can all be done. All of 
it,” Commissioner Lacey Cruse said. “This investigation, the policy 
change, a look at systematic change.”

A joint task force that is reviewing Lofton’s death <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-02-03/joint-task-force-reviewing-teens-death-to-send-letter-to-doj-requesting-investigation" target="_blank">will send a letter to the DOJ </a>asking for an investigation. The county commission voted Friday to support the task force’s decision to send the letter.

Commissioner
 Jim Howell was the only vote against the motion, saying the DOJ isn’t 
going to listen to the commission or the task force. He supports a 
citizen grand jury instead.

“I just think this is the wrong 
process,” Howell said. “I support the task force, especially in the 
mission they were called together to perform. I know that the DOJ is 
doing whatever they want to do.”

Kansas is one of five states that allows for citizens to petition for their own grand jury.

A
 successful petition would need 2 percent of the turnout in the last 
gubernatorial election, plus 100 – or more than 3,000 signatures.

Maurice
 Evans, also known as Pastor Moe, is a spokesperson for Lofton’s family.
 He said that the family and their attorneys are currently reviewing the
 law.

“The end-results in the past haven't been promising, there 
is secrecy in the process and we are still a little unclear on the jury 
selection process,” he said in an email.

The law was used to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-f5452aa069fdeb578443f5947418d794" target="_blank">convene a grand jury in McPherson County</a> last year in a college student’s rape case. The grand jury decided not to recommend charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642880340757.png" alt="Cedric Lofton as seen in a video of the encounter before his death" />
 <figcaption>Cedric Lofton as seen in a video of the encounter before his death</figcaption>
 </figure>By KYLIE CAMERON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-02-04/fbi-reviewing-case-of-wichita-teen-who-died-at-a-sedgwick-county-juvenile-facility">Kansas News Service</a>The FBI is reviewing the case of a 17-year-old who died last year in a Sedgwick County juvenile facility.County Commissioner David Dennis announced the FBI’s review of Cedric Lofton’s death during a special commission meeting Friday.The FBI is part of the Department of Justice, which declined to comment on the matter.Dennis
 said the week of the teen’s death last September, the FBI requested 
information from the county sheriff’s office about the case. The 
information was turned over.Lofton died while being restrained at
 the facility. His family and authorities have said he was suffering a 
mental health crisis.Friday’s announcement comes as advocates 
call for a Department of Justice investigation into possible civil 
rights violations in Lofton’s death.“It can all be done. All of 
it,” Commissioner Lacey Cruse said. “This investigation, the policy 
change, a look at systematic change.”A joint task force that is reviewing Lofton’s death <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-02-03/joint-task-force-reviewing-teens-death-to-send-letter-to-doj-requesting-investigation" target="_blank">will send a letter to the DOJ </a>asking for an investigation. The county commission voted Friday to support the task force’s decision to send the letter.Commissioner
 Jim Howell was the only vote against the motion, saying the DOJ isn’t 
going to listen to the commission or the task force. He supports a 
citizen grand jury instead.“I just think this is the wrong 
process,” Howell said. “I support the task force, especially in the 
mission they were called together to perform. I know that the DOJ is 
doing whatever they want to do.”Kansas is one of five states that allows for citizens to petition for their own grand jury.A
 successful petition would need 2 percent of the turnout in the last 
gubernatorial election, plus 100 – or more than 3,000 signatures.Maurice
 Evans, also known as Pastor Moe, is a spokesperson for Lofton’s family.
 He said that the family and their attorneys are currently reviewing the
 law.“The end-results in the past haven't been promising, there 
is secrecy in the process and we are still a little unclear on the jury 
selection process,” he said in an email.The law was used to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-f5452aa069fdeb578443f5947418d794" target="_blank">convene a grand jury in McPherson County</a> last year in a college student’s rape case. The grand jury decided not to recommend charges.

FBI reviewing case of Kan. teen who died at juvenile facility 

Céline Cousteau is an environmental advocate and filmmaker

<a href="https://hutchpost.com">Via Hutch Post</a>

HUTCHINSON — The Ray and Stella Dillon Lecture Series at Hutchinson Community
 College will open its 2022 series with environmentalist and filmmaker 
Céline Cousteau on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Hutchinson 
Sports Arena.

Through the power of storytelling Cousteau uses her 
amazing voyages around the world to offer a thoughtful perspective on 
the connection of the environment, indigenous peoples, &amp; populations
 around the world and how this knowledge is vital to the future of each 
of us on the planet.

As founder of CauseCentric Productions, 
Céline Cousteau is a documentary film director, producer, and presenter,
 creating cause-focused multimedia content. Extending her family legacy 
and her expertise, Céline co-founded The Céline Cousteau Film 
Fellowship, a nonprofit program whose mission is to empower young 
aspiring filmmakers, creatives, and activists to inspire change through 
filmmaking. Having worked on more than 20 documentaries worldwide, 
Céline offers a global perspective through an insider's intimate point 
of view.

Because of her versatility and background in art, she has
 collaborated with companies like Swarovski, London based fashion 
designer Deborah Milner, and New York jewelry designer Susan Foster to 
design jewelry based on the same messages of her environmental and 
humanitarian work. This was another opportunity to extend storytelling 
into another form in order to share the message of interconnectivity 
between humans and the natural world. Thanks to her position in the 
world of ocean conservation, Céline joined the World Economic Forum 
Council on Oceans for two terms. Currently, Céline is ambassador for the
 TreadRight Foundation, sits on the board of directors of the National 
Aquarium in Baltimore, and the advisory boards of The Himalayan 
Consensus and Marine Construction Technologies. With a degree in 
psychology and a masters in Intercultural Relations, she is fluent in 
three languages.

Cousteau is the first second-generation lecturer 
in the Series history; her father, Jean-Michael Cousteau, spoke on 
November 6, 1984.

Tickets to the lecture will be available beginning at 9:45 am the day of the lecture at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

Cousteau
 will appear at a press conference for members of the media prior to the
 lecture. The press conference is scheduled at 9:45 a.m. in the Media 
Interview Room of the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

2022 is the 41st 
season for the Dillon Lecture Series on the HutchCC Campus. For more 
information on the Dillon Lecture Series, or to become a patron, call 
Robin Woodworth at 620-665-3505 or visit the college website at <a href="http://www.hutchcc.edu/dls">www.hutchcc.edu/dls</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644003391324.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Céline Cousteau is an environmental advocate and filmmaker</h2><a href="https://hutchpost.com">Via Hutch Post</a>HUTCHINSON — The Ray and Stella Dillon Lecture Series at Hutchinson Community
 College will open its 2022 series with environmentalist and filmmaker 
Céline Cousteau on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Hutchinson 
Sports Arena.Through the power of storytelling Cousteau uses her 
amazing voyages around the world to offer a thoughtful perspective on 
the connection of the environment, indigenous peoples, &amp; populations
 around the world and how this knowledge is vital to the future of each 
of us on the planet.As founder of CauseCentric Productions, 
Céline Cousteau is a documentary film director, producer, and presenter,
 creating cause-focused multimedia content. Extending her family legacy 
and her expertise, Céline co-founded The Céline Cousteau Film 
Fellowship, a nonprofit program whose mission is to empower young 
aspiring filmmakers, creatives, and activists to inspire change through 
filmmaking. Having worked on more than 20 documentaries worldwide, 
Céline offers a global perspective through an insider's intimate point 
of view.Because of her versatility and background in art, she has
 collaborated with companies like Swarovski, London based fashion 
designer Deborah Milner, and New York jewelry designer Susan Foster to 
design jewelry based on the same messages of her environmental and 
humanitarian work. This was another opportunity to extend storytelling 
into another form in order to share the message of interconnectivity 
between humans and the natural world. Thanks to her position in the 
world of ocean conservation, Céline joined the World Economic Forum 
Council on Oceans for two terms. Currently, Céline is ambassador for the
 TreadRight Foundation, sits on the board of directors of the National 
Aquarium in Baltimore, and the advisory boards of The Himalayan 
Consensus and Marine Construction Technologies. With a degree in 
psychology and a masters in Intercultural Relations, she is fluent in 
three languages.Cousteau is the first second-generation lecturer 
in the Series history; her father, Jean-Michael Cousteau, spoke on 
November 6, 1984.Tickets to the lecture will be available beginning at 9:45 am the day of the lecture at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.Cousteau
 will appear at a press conference for members of the media prior to the
 lecture. The press conference is scheduled at 9:45 a.m. in the Media 
Interview Room of the Hutchinson Sports Arena.2022 is the 41st 
season for the Dillon Lecture Series on the HutchCC Campus. For more 
information on the Dillon Lecture Series, or to become a patron, call 
Robin Woodworth at 620-665-3505 or visit the college website at <a href="http://www.hutchcc.edu/dls">www.hutchcc.edu/dls</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;MID=181918;type=eligibleimpression;placementID=1658630;setID=524197;channelID=0;CID=0;BID=520548048;TAID=0;place=0;mt=1644007573005726;hc=f80b88b64881274e36e1ad89e73cac813a21ec2f" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
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Granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau will speak in Hutch

Resolution: Jan. 6, 2021, staged by 'ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse'

By SAM METZ Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Republican Party officials have voted to punish Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and advanced a rule change that would prohibit candidates from participating in presidential debates organized by the Commission on Presidential Debates. 

GOP officials took a voice vote to approve both measures at the Republican National Committee's winter meeting in Salt Lake City. 

The measure stops short of calling for Cheney and Kinzinger to be expelled from the party. 

Even so, the censure resolution describes those who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as "ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644005812183.png" alt="Cheney" />
 <figcaption>Cheney</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Resolution: Jan. 6, 2021, staged by 'ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse'</h2>By SAM METZ Associated PressSALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Republican Party officials have voted to punish Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and advanced a rule change that would prohibit candidates from participating in presidential debates organized by the Commission on Presidential Debates. GOP officials took a voice vote to approve both measures at the Republican National Committee's winter meeting in Salt Lake City. The measure stops short of calling for Cheney and Kinzinger to be expelled from the party. Even so, the censure resolution describes those who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as "ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse."

GOP censures Cheney, Kinzinger; moves to pull out of debates

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal advisory panel voted unanimously Friday to continue to endorse Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for adults, now that U.S. regulators have given the shots their full approval.

The decision has little practical effect. Tens of millions of Americans have already gotten Moderna shots, following its emergency authorization by the Food and Drug Administration more than a year ago.

Earlier this week, the FDA gave the product full licensure, following the kind of rigorous, time-consuming review given to other vaccines.

While the FDA licenses vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes recommendations to doctors and patients about how they should be used. So the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices took up the matter on Friday.

The panel heard summaries of medical studies that showed the vaccine is working against the coronavirus and there is no evidence of new safety concerns.

The Moderna vaccine, now being marketed under the name Spikevax, is licensed as a two-dose series for people 18 and older. Under earlier emergency use authorizations, additional doses can be given as additional doses for people with weakened immune systems or as half-dose boosters.

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal advisory panel voted unanimously Friday to continue to endorse Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for adults, now that U.S. regulators have given the shots their full approval.The decision has little practical effect. Tens of millions of Americans have already gotten Moderna shots, following its emergency authorization by the Food and Drug Administration more than a year ago.Earlier this week, the FDA gave the product full licensure, following the kind of rigorous, time-consuming review given to other vaccines.While the FDA licenses vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes recommendations to doctors and patients about how they should be used. So the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices took up the matter on Friday.The panel heard summaries of medical studies that showed the vaccine is working against the coronavirus and there is no evidence of new safety concerns.The Moderna vaccine, now being marketed under the name Spikevax, is licensed as a two-dose series for people 18 and older. Under earlier emergency use authorizations, additional doses can be given as additional doses for people with weakened immune systems or as half-dose boosters.___

Expert panel backs Moderna COVID shots after full US approval

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas could phase out its corporate income tax under a measure that also would expand its incentives for attracting new businesses, and the provision is a problem as lawmakers rush to help the state attract an undisclosed multibillion-dollar project.

The state House Commerce Committee’s leader on Thursday derided the measure as “messed up” and delayed a vote until Monday on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb347_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;authorizing hundreds of millions of dollars in incentives for billion-dollar business projects.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-legislature-kansas-topeka-933bcd1586567b445f643e57de554cea">The Senate approved</a>&nbsp;the measure with bipartisan support last week, and the GOP-controlled Legislature still hopes to wrap up work on the bill next week.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the state Department of Commerce are pushing for quick passage so that the agency can offer an unnamed company $1 billion or more in incentives to make Kansas home to what department officials say would be a $4 billion facility. Kelly’s office and the department were negotiating with lawmakers.

“It came over here a train wreck,” said House Commerce Committee Chair Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican.

Republican senators added a cut in corporate income taxes, arguing that other businesses, particularly small ones, should also get a break if the state is going to offer huge incentives to single companies. But the provision is written so that the state would keep reducing the tax in future years, possibly until it was eliminated.

Kelly, other Democrats and the Department of Commerce favor one modest cut in the corporate income tax rate. Even some Republicans who favor a series of cuts acknowledge that the disputed provision’s language is unclear enough that the reductions could be more aggressive than intended.

“Whatever we do, we want to be sure it’s sustainable,” said state Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican.

The measure would give the Department of Commerce the authority to cut a company’s state income tax burden, cover part of its payroll, reimburse some employee training costs and reduce its local property taxes. It also could offer some breaks to up to five major suppliers named by that firm.

Some GOP conservatives have criticized the measure as crony capitalism that has the state improperly picking economic winners and losers.

Deputy Commerce Secretary Paul Hughes told the House committee this week that Kansas is pursuing “a massive advanced manufacturing facility” that will employ 4,000 people earning an average of $50,000 a year. Officials and lawmakers who know more details say they’ve been required to sign an agreement not to disclose the information publicly.

The bill also would cut the state’s corporate income tax by a half-percentage point once that company begins receiving the incentives, dropping the top rate to 6.5% from 7%. The bill says that the tax will continue to drop by a half-percentage point for each year “that a qualified firm or qualified supplier receives benefits.”

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, said the goal was to have multiple reductions in the corporate income tax so that Kansas is more competitive with other states. Texas has no corporate income tax; Oklahoma’s top tax rate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ok-state-wire-oklahoma-business-education-health-f4e89a3434ad560d545e408394ccfb39">dropped to 4%</a>&nbsp;this year, and&nbsp;<a href="https://taxfoundation.org/state-corporate-income-tax-rates-brackets-2022/" target="_blank">the top rates</a>&nbsp;in Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri and New Mexico are lower than 6%, according to the nonprofit Tax Foundation.

“Taking it down a half-percent one time is not going to get a competitive level,” Erickson said.

The first corporate tax cut is expected to cost the state about $48 million a year in revenue. The state is on track to collect more than $660 million in corporate income taxes during the current budget year.

The big-incentives program has had bipartisan support, but Sen. Tom Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, said if GOP lawmakers stick to ongoing corporate tax cuts, “I can see a lot of senators running like scalded cats away from that deal.”

Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said the intent was to cut the rate every time the state closed a “mega-deal” with a company, so it would take 14 such deals to phase out the corporate income tax. In both chambers, GOP lawmakers also want to require legislators to review the big-incentives program after a year or two.

In the House, Republicans were leaning toward Masterson’s position that the corporate tax rate would drop only when the Commerce Department lands such a deal.

“Now I’ve got to get conservative Republicans to fix a bill,” Tarwater said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643984923007.png" alt="Members of the House Commerce Committee during a discussion Thursday on the measure-image State Legislative YouTube&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Members of the House Commerce Committee during a discussion Thursday on the measure-image State Legislative YouTube&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas could phase out its corporate income tax under a measure that also would expand its incentives for attracting new businesses, and the provision is a problem as lawmakers rush to help the state attract an undisclosed multibillion-dollar project.The state House Commerce Committee’s leader on Thursday derided the measure as “messed up” and delayed a vote until Monday on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb347_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;authorizing hundreds of millions of dollars in incentives for billion-dollar business projects.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-legislature-kansas-topeka-933bcd1586567b445f643e57de554cea">The Senate approved</a>&nbsp;the measure with bipartisan support last week, and the GOP-controlled Legislature still hopes to wrap up work on the bill next week.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the state Department of Commerce are pushing for quick passage so that the agency can offer an unnamed company $1 billion or more in incentives to make Kansas home to what department officials say would be a $4 billion facility. Kelly’s office and the department were negotiating with lawmakers.“It came over here a train wreck,” said House Commerce Committee Chair Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican.Republican senators added a cut in corporate income taxes, arguing that other businesses, particularly small ones, should also get a break if the state is going to offer huge incentives to single companies. But the provision is written so that the state would keep reducing the tax in future years, possibly until it was eliminated.Kelly, other Democrats and the Department of Commerce favor one modest cut in the corporate income tax rate. Even some Republicans who favor a series of cuts acknowledge that the disputed provision’s language is unclear enough that the reductions could be more aggressive than intended.“Whatever we do, we want to be sure it’s sustainable,” said state Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican.The measure would give the Department of Commerce the authority to cut a company’s state income tax burden, cover part of its payroll, reimburse some employee training costs and reduce its local property taxes. It also could offer some breaks to up to five major suppliers named by that firm.Some GOP conservatives have criticized the measure as crony capitalism that has the state improperly picking economic winners and losers.Deputy Commerce Secretary Paul Hughes told the House committee this week that Kansas is pursuing “a massive advanced manufacturing facility” that will employ 4,000 people earning an average of $50,000 a year. Officials and lawmakers who know more details say they’ve been required to sign an agreement not to disclose the information publicly.The bill also would cut the state’s corporate income tax by a half-percentage point once that company begins receiving the incentives, dropping the top rate to 6.5% from 7%. The bill says that the tax will continue to drop by a half-percentage point for each year “that a qualified firm or qualified supplier receives benefits.”Senate Commerce Committee Chair Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, said the goal was to have multiple reductions in the corporate income tax so that Kansas is more competitive with other states. Texas has no corporate income tax; Oklahoma’s top tax rate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ok-state-wire-oklahoma-business-education-health-f4e89a3434ad560d545e408394ccfb39">dropped to 4%</a>&nbsp;this year, and&nbsp;<a href="https://taxfoundation.org/state-corporate-income-tax-rates-brackets-2022/" target="_blank">the top rates</a>&nbsp;in Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri and New Mexico are lower than 6%, according to the nonprofit Tax Foundation.“Taking it down a half-percent one time is not going to get a competitive level,” Erickson said.The first corporate tax cut is expected to cost the state about $48 million a year in revenue. The state is on track to collect more than $660 million in corporate income taxes during the current budget year.The big-incentives program has had bipartisan support, but Sen. Tom Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, said if GOP lawmakers stick to ongoing corporate tax cuts, “I can see a lot of senators running like scalded cats away from that deal.”Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said the intent was to cut the rate every time the state closed a “mega-deal” with a company, so it would take 14 such deals to phase out the corporate income tax. In both chambers, GOP lawmakers also want to require legislators to review the big-incentives program after a year or two.In the House, Republicans were leaning toward Masterson’s position that the corporate tax rate would drop only when the Commerce Department lands such a deal.“Now I’ve got to get conservative Republicans to fix a bill,” Tarwater said.

Kan. considers ending corporate income tax to lure big project

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 4,871 to a total of 744,493, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The state reported 139 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,716.

<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.

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 4,871 to a total of 744,493, the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 139 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,716.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643997947569.png" alt="Friday February 4, 2022 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday February 4, 2022 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.