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

GREAT BEND — A conceptual budget for the new Great Bend police station to
be presented before the Great Bend City Council this upcoming Monday will be
more than $380,000 over budget. 
Less than a year ago, the construction was not to exceed $5 million and as of
February 2022, the project budget is nearly $7.7 million. GLMV Architecture and
McCown-Gordon Construction will present a proposal of over $8 million. 
On Monday’s agenda, city staff noted the amount is not necessarily the guaranteed
maximum price and there are significant contingencies built into the total
project cost. The city pointed out there are coronavirus aid and relief and
economic security funds available to cover the upfront cost if needed. 
Citizens voted in favor of a .10% sales tax increase this past November to go
toward bond debt with a sunset in 20 years. The city anticipates more than $5.6
million from the bond proceeds and currently have over $2 million in savings
for the project. 
The new police station will be constructed on the city-owned parking lot at the
intersection of 12th Street and Baker Avenue. The new facility will
roughly triple the size of the existing police station that was built in 1938. 
In June of 2021, it was reported the anticipated cost was not to exceed $5
million. In September, the projected cost was $5.8 million. In October, the
anticipated cost was $6.7 million. In December, the design and construction was
estimated at $7.3 million. 
Construction costs per square foot jumped much higher than what Great Bend initially
anticipated. 
McCown-Gordon proposed beginning the site demolition in July and finishing the
construction in April of 2023. 
The update and proposal will go before the city council Monday, Feb. 7.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643991808272.png" alt="When preliminary talks were had to construct a new police station in Great Bend, the anticipated cost of construction was not to exceed $5 million. The Great Bend City Council will receive an update Monday, Feb. 7 of a proposal costing over $8 million." />
 <figcaption>When preliminary talks were had to construct a new police station in Great Bend, the anticipated cost of construction was not to exceed $5 million. The Great Bend City Council will receive an update Monday, Feb. 7 of a proposal costing over $8 million.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>GREAT BEND — A conceptual budget for the new Great Bend police station to
be presented before the Great Bend City Council this upcoming Monday will be
more than $380,000 over budget. 
Less than a year ago, the construction was not to exceed $5 million and as of
February 2022, the project budget is nearly $7.7 million. GLMV Architecture and
McCown-Gordon Construction will present a proposal of over $8 million. 
On Monday’s agenda, city staff noted the amount is not necessarily the guaranteed
maximum price and there are significant contingencies built into the total
project cost. The city pointed out there are coronavirus aid and relief and
economic security funds available to cover the upfront cost if needed. 
Citizens voted in favor of a .10% sales tax increase this past November to go
toward bond debt with a sunset in 20 years. The city anticipates more than $5.6
million from the bond proceeds and currently have over $2 million in savings
for the project. 
The new police station will be constructed on the city-owned parking lot at the
intersection of 12th Street and Baker Avenue. The new facility will
roughly triple the size of the existing police station that was built in 1938. 
In June of 2021, it was reported the anticipated cost was not to exceed $5
million. In September, the projected cost was $5.8 million. In October, the
anticipated cost was $6.7 million. In December, the design and construction was
estimated at $7.3 million. 
Construction costs per square foot jumped much higher than what Great Bend initially
anticipated. 
McCown-Gordon proposed beginning the site demolition in July and finishing the
construction in April of 2023. 
The update and proposal will go before the city council Monday, Feb. 7.

Price tag for new Great Bend police station keeps rising

WASHINGTON – As part of a larger effort to help people during this 
year's filing season, the Internal Revenue Service today announced 
special Saturday hours at many Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) across
 the country.

TACs provide taxpayers with in-person help. Select TACs are open from
 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., February 12, March 12, April 9 and May 14. Normally, 
these centers are not open on Saturdays. No appointments are required.

"The IRS continues to do everything we can to help people during this
 unprecedented period," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Opening 
these assistance centers for special Saturday hours is designed to 
provide yet another way for people to get the help they need. We 
encourage people to review the details on these special Saturday hours 
so we can help serve them. I'm also extremely grateful to our employees 
who have stepped up to provide this special assistance."

People can receive walk-in help on all services, however, the TACs 
will not accept cash payments on these Saturdays. During the extra 
operating hours, people can also ask about reconciling <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">advance Child Tax Credit</a> payments and receive other help.

To see which TACs will be open, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs-face-to-face-saturday-help">IRS.gov/saturdayhours</a>.

To arrive prepared, individuals should bring the following information:

During the visit, IRS staff may also request the following information:

"We encourage people to receive payments and their tax refunds 
via direct deposit, which is faster and more secure than other payment 
methods," said IRS Wage &amp; Investment Commissioner and Taxpayer 
Experience Officer Ken Corbin. "People who don't have a bank account 
should visit the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation</a> website for details on opening an account online. They can also use the FDIC's <a href="https://banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind">BankFind</a> tool to find an FDIC-insured bank."

<a href="https://covidbanking.joinbankon.org/">BankOn</a>, <a href="https://www.aba.com/advocacy/community-programs/consumer-resources/manage-your-money/choosing-safe-affordable-account">American Bankers Association</a>, <a href="https://www.icba.org/about/find-a-community-bank/open-a-bank-account-remotely">Independent Community Bankers of America</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">National Credit Union Administration</a> have lists of banks and credit unions that allow opening an account online. Veterans can use the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program</a> to learn about financial services at participating banks.

The IRS's <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office">Contact Your Local Office</a> site lists all services provided at specific TACs.

If someone has a question(s) about a tax bill or an IRS audit, or 
needs help resolving a tax problem, they will receive assistance from 
IRS employees specializing in these services. If these employees are not
 available, the individual will receive a referral for these services. 
Taxpayer Advocate Service employees may also be available to assist with
 issues that meet certain criteria.

IRS staff will schedule appointments for a later date for Deaf or 
Hard of Hearing individuals who need sign language interpreter services.
 Foreign language interpreters will also be available.

The IRS follows <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html">Centers for Disease Control social distancing guidelines</a>
 for COVID-19, and availability may change without notice. People are 
required to wear face masks and social distance at these events.

People who need assistance preparing tax returns can visit a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Center (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly location</a>. VITA sites offer free tax help to qualified individuals who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns, including:

People who need to pay their federal taxes with cash can visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a> to get information on several payment options.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON – As part of a larger effort to help people during this 
year's filing season, the Internal Revenue Service today announced 
special Saturday hours at many Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) across
 the country.TACs provide taxpayers with in-person help. Select TACs are open from
 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., February 12, March 12, April 9 and May 14. Normally, 
these centers are not open on Saturdays. No appointments are required."The IRS continues to do everything we can to help people during this
 unprecedented period," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Opening 
these assistance centers for special Saturday hours is designed to 
provide yet another way for people to get the help they need. We 
encourage people to review the details on these special Saturday hours 
so we can help serve them. I'm also extremely grateful to our employees 
who have stepped up to provide this special assistance."People can receive walk-in help on all services, however, the TACs 
will not accept cash payments on these Saturdays. During the extra 
operating hours, people can also ask about reconciling <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021">advance Child Tax Credit</a> payments and receive other help.To see which TACs will be open, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs-face-to-face-saturday-help">IRS.gov/saturdayhours</a>.<h2>Come prepared</h2>To arrive prepared, individuals should bring the following information:<ul>
 <li>Current government-issued photo identification,</li><li>Social Security cards for members of their household, including spouse and dependents (if applicable) and</li><li>Any IRS letters or notices received and related documents.</li>
 </ul>During the visit, IRS staff may also request the following information:<ul>
 <li>A current mailing address,</li><li>An email address and</li><li>Bank account information, to receive payments or refunds by direct deposit.</li>
 </ul>"We encourage people to receive payments and their tax refunds 
via direct deposit, which is faster and more secure than other payment 
methods," said IRS Wage &amp; Investment Commissioner and Taxpayer 
Experience Officer Ken Corbin. "People who don't have a bank account 
should visit the <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/about/initiatives/getbanked/index.html">Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation</a> website for details on opening an account online. They can also use the FDIC's <a href="https://banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind">BankFind</a> tool to find an FDIC-insured bank."<a href="https://covidbanking.joinbankon.org/">BankOn</a>, <a href="https://www.aba.com/advocacy/community-programs/consumer-resources/manage-your-money/choosing-safe-affordable-account">American Bankers Association</a>, <a href="https://www.icba.org/about/find-a-community-bank/open-a-bank-account-remotely">Independent Community Bankers of America</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">National Credit Union Administration</a> have lists of banks and credit unions that allow opening an account online. Veterans can use the <a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program</a> to learn about financial services at participating banks.<h2>Services provided</h2>The IRS's <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office">Contact Your Local Office</a> site lists all services provided at specific TACs.If someone has a question(s) about a tax bill or an IRS audit, or 
needs help resolving a tax problem, they will receive assistance from 
IRS employees specializing in these services. If these employees are not
 available, the individual will receive a referral for these services. 
Taxpayer Advocate Service employees may also be available to assist with
 issues that meet certain criteria.IRS staff will schedule appointments for a later date for Deaf or 
Hard of Hearing individuals who need sign language interpreter services.
 Foreign language interpreters will also be available.The IRS follows <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html">Centers for Disease Control social distancing guidelines</a>
 for COVID-19, and availability may change without notice. People are 
required to wear face masks and social distance at these events.People who need assistance preparing tax returns can visit a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Center (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly location</a>. VITA sites offer free tax help to qualified individuals who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns, including:<ul>
 <li>People who earn $58,000 or less,</li><li>Persons with disabilities and</li><li>Limited English-speaking taxpayers.</li>
 </ul>People who need to pay their federal taxes with cash can visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a> to get information on several payment options.<h2>More information:</h2><ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/secure-access-how-to-register-for-certain-online-self-help-tools">How to Register for Certain Online Self-Help Tools</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-topic-h-reconciling-your-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-on-your-2021-tax-return">Reconciling Your Advance Child Tax Credit Payments on Your 2021 Tax Return</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit">IRS.gov/rrc</a> to learn about filing requirements for the Recovery Rebate Credit</li>
 </ul>

Some IRS centers open on special Saturdays for face-to-face help

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating suspect on drug charges after a traffic stop.

Just after 2a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; a sheriff’s deputy stopped a Toyota Camry&nbsp; near U.S. Highway 75 and 112th Access in Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Following an investigation, the deputy arrested the driver, Chase Andrew Thompson, 28, of Lawrence on requested charges that include&nbsp;unlawfully obtaining a prescription drug,  possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643814926204.png" alt="Thompson photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Thompson photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating suspect on drug charges after a traffic stop.Just after 2a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; a sheriff’s deputy stopped a Toyota Camry&nbsp; near U.S. Highway 75 and 112th Access in Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Following an investigation, the deputy arrested the driver, Chase Andrew Thompson, 28, of Lawrence on requested charges that include&nbsp;unlawfully obtaining a prescription drug, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container.

Kan. man accused of unlawfully obtaining a prescription drug

Salina Regional Health Center (SRHC) can count among its accomplishments being a first in the world.

On Wednesday, SRHC became the first hospital in the world to implement Stryker’s SurgiCount+ Safety Sponge System, a process aimed at reducing surgical risk, improving workflow, and reducing stress for surgical staff members, according to information from SRHC.

"SurgiCount+ uses ultra-high radio frequency identification (RFID) technology embedded in each surgical sponge to track its use during surgery. Nurses count-in and count-out each sponge used during a procedure using a RFID reader. If a sponge is missing after a procedure, nurses can use the wireless reader to scan the room and locate it," the hospital noted in a news release this afternoon.

Why is this new and different? According to SRHC, optical scanning technology previously was used to scan bar codes on sponges, which didn't help locate missing sponges.

“The technology provides an added level of security over manual counts, which can have human errors,” said Kelley Drake, Surgical Services nursing director at Salina Regional. “It’s also a step towards achieving the new Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety, which we are striving for.”

Salina Regional has implemented the technology for use in all of its operating rooms, Cardiac Cath Lab, and Labor and Delivery Department, the hospital noted. 

"Major surgeries like heart bypass and trauma surgeries can use up to 100 sponges in each surgery. Counting out and locating all of the sponges used during a surgery is important. Retained sponges, while rare, can lead to adverse patient outcomes. For this reason, accurate sponge counting has always been a critical component to surgical safety," SRHC reported.

“We’re excited to be a leader in using this advanced technology,” Drake said.

According to SRHC, a number of hospitals in the United States are converting to the new SurgiCount+ system in the coming months. 

"Advances in the technology are also planned for release in the upcoming months that will allow the device to optically measure blood loss, which will help minimize manual calculating errors," the hospital noted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643939014497.jpeg" alt="Andrea Zornman, right, marketing manager with Stryker, trains Salina Regional Health Center surgery nurses on Tuesday for the use of the new SurgiCount+ Safety Sponge System. Photo courtesy SRHC" />
 <figcaption>Andrea Zornman, right, marketing manager with Stryker, trains Salina Regional Health Center surgery nurses on Tuesday for the use of the new SurgiCount+ Safety Sponge System. Photo courtesy SRHC</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTSalina Regional Health Center (SRHC) can count among its accomplishments being a first in the world.On Wednesday, SRHC became the first hospital in the world to implement Stryker’s SurgiCount+ Safety Sponge System, a process aimed at reducing surgical risk, improving workflow, and reducing stress for surgical staff members, according to information from SRHC."SurgiCount+ uses ultra-high radio frequency identification (RFID) technology embedded in each surgical sponge to track its use during surgery. Nurses count-in and count-out each sponge used during a procedure using a RFID reader. If a sponge is missing after a procedure, nurses can use the wireless reader to scan the room and locate it," the hospital noted in a news release this afternoon.Why is this new and different? According to SRHC, optical scanning technology previously was used to scan bar codes on sponges, which didn't help locate missing sponges.“The technology provides an added level of security over manual counts, which can have human errors,” said Kelley Drake, Surgical Services nursing director at Salina Regional. “It’s also a step towards achieving the new Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety, which we are striving for.”Salina Regional has implemented the technology for use in all of its operating rooms, Cardiac Cath Lab, and Labor and Delivery Department, the hospital noted. "Major surgeries like heart bypass and trauma surgeries can use up to 100 sponges in each surgery. Counting out and locating all of the sponges used during a surgery is important. Retained sponges, while rare, can lead to adverse patient outcomes. For this reason, accurate sponge counting has always been a critical component to surgical safety," SRHC reported.“We’re excited to be a leader in using this advanced technology,” Drake said.According to SRHC, a number of hospitals in the United States are converting to the new SurgiCount+ system in the coming months. "Advances in the technology are also planned for release in the upcoming months that will allow the device to optically measure blood loss, which will help minimize manual calculating errors," the hospital noted.

Salina hospital first to use new surgical sponge technology

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison for the hit-and-run death of a teenager in Leavenworth.

Amber Alexander, 28, was sentenced Wednesday in Leavenworth County District Court for the August 2021 death of 16-year-old Miranda Lynch,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kairfm.com/">radio station KAIR reports</a>.

Alexander was convicted in December of second-degree murder, leaving the scene of a fatal accident and evidence tampering in the the girl’s death. Prosecutors presented evidence in her trial showing that Alexander had several drinks before leaving a bar in Lansing and driving to Leavenworth, where she hit Lynch around 2 a.m. on Aug. 7, 2021.

Alexander fled the crash and crossed a bridge into Missouri, prosecutors said.

Following the deadly hit and run, Alexander reported to her insurance carrier that her car had been hit in her apartment complex parking lot during the night, investigators said. Later that same day, officials said, she drove her car off a road into a wooded area in an attempt to cover up her involvement in the fatal hit-and-run crash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628642854304.png" alt="Alexander-photo Leavenworth Co." />
 <figcaption>Alexander-photo Leavenworth Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison for the hit-and-run death of a teenager in Leavenworth.Amber Alexander, 28, was sentenced Wednesday in Leavenworth County District Court for the August 2021 death of 16-year-old Miranda Lynch,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kairfm.com/">radio station KAIR reports</a>.Alexander was convicted in December of second-degree murder, leaving the scene of a fatal accident and evidence tampering in the the girl’s death. Prosecutors presented evidence in her trial showing that Alexander had several drinks before leaving a bar in Lansing and driving to Leavenworth, where she hit Lynch around 2 a.m. on Aug. 7, 2021.Alexander fled the crash and crossed a bridge into Missouri, prosecutors said.Following the deadly hit and run, Alexander reported to her insurance carrier that her car had been hit in her apartment complex parking lot during the night, investigators said. Later that same day, officials said, she drove her car off a road into a wooded area in an attempt to cover up her involvement in the fatal hit-and-run crash.

Kan. woman lied to her insurance carrier after fatal hit-and-run crash

TOPEKA&nbsp;–Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has vetoed a controversial congressional redistricting plan, Senate Bill 355, easily approved by the GOP-dominated Kansas Legislature.

The bill would split the Kansas City area into two congressional districts and move the liberal northeast Kansas city of Lawrence into a district with central and western Kansas. In the plan, Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids would lose some of the neighborhoods in her Kansas City-area 3rd District where her support is strongest.

In a statement from her office, Governor Kelly stated, “The process of drawing districts each decade is the core to ensuring that all Kansans&nbsp;have the opportunity to&nbsp;participate in their government and have their voices heard. The courts and the Legislature have established case law and criteria on how to draw Kansas districts fairly and constitutionally.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Those guidelines call for ensuring that districts are nearly equal to 734,470 in population as practicable while ensuring that plans have neither the purpose nor effect of diluting minority communities’ voting strength. The guidelines call for protecting communities of interest, preserving the core of existing congressional districts, and ensuring that whole counties are in the same congressional district if possible. The Legislature’s guidelines further state that 'to a considerable degree most counties in Kansas are economic, social, and cultural units, or parts of a larger socioeconomic unit. These communities of interest should be considered during the creation of congressional districts.'

“Senate Bill 355, known as Ad Astra 2, does not follow these guidelines and provides no justification for deviation from those guidelines. Wyandotte County is carved into two separate congressional districts. Without explanation, this map shifts 46% of the Black population and 33% of the Hispanic population out of the third congressional district by dividing the Hispanic neighborhoods of&nbsp;Quindaro&nbsp;Bluffs, Bethel-Welborn, Strawberry Hill,&nbsp;Armourdale&nbsp;and others from Argentine, Turner and the rest of Kansas City, Kansas south of I-70. To replace lost population in the third district, this map adds in counties that are more rural to the south and west of the core of the Kansas City metropolitan area.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Ad Astra 2 also separates the city of Lawrence from Douglas County and inserts urban precincts of Lawrence into the largely rural Big First Congressional District, reducing the strength of communities of interest in Western Kansas and unnecessarily dividing communities of interest in Eastern Kansas.&nbsp;

“Several alternatives would allow for the same deviation as Ad Astra 2 while protecting the core of the existing congressional districts and without diluting minority communities’ voting&nbsp;strength. I am ready to work with the Legislature in a bipartisan fashion to pass a new congressional map that addresses the constitutional issues in Senate Bill 355. Together, we can come to a consensus and pass a compromise that&nbsp;empowers all&nbsp;people of Kansas.&nbsp;

“For those reasons, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Bill 355.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643147273216.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;–Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has vetoed a controversial congressional redistricting plan, Senate Bill 355, easily approved by the GOP-dominated Kansas Legislature.The bill would split the Kansas City area into two congressional districts and move the liberal northeast Kansas city of Lawrence into a district with central and western Kansas. In the plan, Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids would lose some of the neighborhoods in her Kansas City-area 3rd District where her support is strongest.In a statement from her office, Governor Kelly stated, “The process of drawing districts each decade is the core to ensuring that all Kansans&nbsp;have the opportunity to&nbsp;participate in their government and have their voices heard. The courts and the Legislature have established case law and criteria on how to draw Kansas districts fairly and constitutionally.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Those guidelines call for ensuring that districts are nearly equal to 734,470 in population as practicable while ensuring that plans have neither the purpose nor effect of diluting minority communities’ voting strength. The guidelines call for protecting communities of interest, preserving the core of existing congressional districts, and ensuring that whole counties are in the same congressional district if possible. The Legislature’s guidelines further state that 'to a considerable degree most counties in Kansas are economic, social, and cultural units, or parts of a larger socioeconomic unit. These communities of interest should be considered during the creation of congressional districts.'“Senate Bill 355, known as Ad Astra 2, does not follow these guidelines and provides no justification for deviation from those guidelines. Wyandotte County is carved into two separate congressional districts. Without explanation, this map shifts 46% of the Black population and 33% of the Hispanic population out of the third congressional district by dividing the Hispanic neighborhoods of&nbsp;Quindaro&nbsp;Bluffs, Bethel-Welborn, Strawberry Hill,&nbsp;Armourdale&nbsp;and others from Argentine, Turner and the rest of Kansas City, Kansas south of I-70. To replace lost population in the third district, this map adds in counties that are more rural to the south and west of the core of the Kansas City metropolitan area.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Ad Astra 2 also separates the city of Lawrence from Douglas County and inserts urban precincts of Lawrence into the largely rural Big First Congressional District, reducing the strength of communities of interest in Western Kansas and unnecessarily dividing communities of interest in Eastern Kansas.&nbsp;“Several alternatives would allow for the same deviation as Ad Astra 2 while protecting the core of the existing congressional districts and without diluting minority communities’ voting&nbsp;strength. I am ready to work with the Legislature in a bipartisan fashion to pass a new congressional map that addresses the constitutional issues in Senate Bill 355. Together, we can come to a consensus and pass a compromise that&nbsp;empowers all&nbsp;people of Kansas.&nbsp;“For those reasons, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Bill 355.”

Gov. vetoes controversial plan to change Kan. congressional map

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man accused of duping hundreds of people into paying for autopsies that his company did not perform is expected to plead guilty to fraud charges next month. The Kansas City Star reports that Shawn Parcells on Tuesday filed a notice of intent to change his plea to 10 federal charges of wire fraud. A change of plea hearing is scheduled for March 3. Prosecutors say he used his business, National Autopsy Services in Topeka, to charge clients $3,000 for autopsies on their loved ones but never performed the procedures. He reportedly made more than $1 million from the alleged scheme.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574875994992.png" alt="Shawn Parcells photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Shawn Parcells photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man accused of duping hundreds of people into paying for autopsies that his company did not perform is expected to plead guilty to fraud charges next month. The Kansas City Star reports that Shawn Parcells on Tuesday filed a notice of intent to change his plea to 10 federal charges of wire fraud. A change of plea hearing is scheduled for March 3. Prosecutors say he used his business, National Autopsy Services in Topeka, to charge clients $3,000 for autopsies on their loved ones but never performed the procedures. He reportedly made more than $1 million from the alleged scheme.

Kan. man accused $1M autopsy fraud expected to plead guilty

Lawmakers wondered aloud Thursday how a showdown between two federal agencies over the rollout of new high-speed wireless service reached crisis proportions last month, but they were short on answers to a dispute that raised concerns about interference with key equipment on some planes.

Some flights have been canceled since Verizon and AT&amp;T turned on their new networks last month, but predictions of widespread cancellations turned out to be wrong. The Federal Aviation Administration has cleared 90% of the nation’s airline fleet to land during poor visibility at airports near 5G cell towers.

Those approvals are being made each month, plane by plane, based on the model of radio altimeter that they use to measure their height above the ground. Some “lower-performing” planes are still restricted, and a permanent fix for the entire fleet is likely at least a year away, FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson said during a hearing of the House aviation subcommittee.

The CEOs of American Airlines and United Airlines have said they don’t expect any more disruptions. However, more than half of the planes operated by regional airlines remain restricted during bad weather, said Faye Malarkey Black, president of a trade group for the smaller carriers, some of which operate flights for American Eagle, United Express and Delta Connection.

Black said cancellations are still occurring, and more than one-fourth of flights at the three major airports in the New York City areas are operated by smaller planes that can’t land there during bad weather because of restrictions related to 5G.

Verizon and AT&amp;T agreed to two delays before launching most of their planned new 5G service on Jan. 19 except near airports, where they agreed not to turn on new cell towers for the time being.

Dozens of flights were canceled because of 5G concerns after the services went live, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-travel-lifestyle-business-air-travel-2e94c5d153ad6dd756196e9b1577dcd3">widespread cancellations were avoided</a>.

The current, temporary fix came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-business-federal-aviation-administration-658c00d4d281bf11772b7ce457c3e244">after the White House stepped&nbsp;</a>in to settle a lack of cooperation between the FAA and the Federal Communications Commission that threatened to create massive disruptions for airlines and passengers.

Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., told Dickson that FAA’s last-minute directives about operating around 5G indicates “that you really didn’t have a plan and didn’t understand the gravity of the situation ahead of time.”

Dickson said FAA couldn’t authorize low-visibility flights near the new signals until it got information from the telecom companies about the location, height and power of their 5G towers.

The FAA chief said regulators and experts from both industries are now working together. Last week, the FAA said that new data from the companies cleared the way for activating more towers close to airports.

House Transportation Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., blamed the clash on the FCC, which approved plans by Verizon and AT&amp;T to launch faster and more reliable 5G service using the C-Band part of the radio spectrum that is close to the range used by airplane altimeters, which are critical for landing in poor visibility.

DeFazio said he and aviation interests raised concerns about possible interference for several years, but the FCC ignored them and auctioned off 5G spectrum without ensuring there would be no interference with aviation.

“Having a dropped call is way less serious than having a dropped airplane,” he said.

The FCC has said it provided enough buffer between C-Band and radio altimeters to prevent interference.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel was invited to testify but had a conflict, according to an agency spokesman, who declined to describe the conflict. He said that Rosenworcel spoke separately on Wednesday with DeFazio and the chairman of the aviation subcommittee, Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash.

The FCC and the telecom companies say that 40 other countries have rolled out C-Band 5G service without any reports of radio interference with planes. Aviation groups say those countries have lower-power 5G signals or impose other restrictions on the service to prevent interference, a claim that is disputed by the telecom industry.

Meredith Baker, president of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, said that an aviation group’s 2020 study that raised serious concern about interference was flawed and distorted by presenting worst-case scenarios.

DeFazio and Larsen countered that aviation safety requires considering even implausible events.

“That’s what we plan for — the worst case,” DeFazio said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643918987411.png" alt="Missouri 6th District Rep. Sam Graves, the Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the U.S. House of Representatives, during his opening statement Thursday-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Missouri 6th District Rep. Sam Graves, the Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the U.S. House of Representatives, during his opening statement Thursday-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID KOENIG, AP Airlines WriterLawmakers wondered aloud Thursday how a showdown between two federal agencies over the rollout of new high-speed wireless service reached crisis proportions last month, but they were short on answers to a dispute that raised concerns about interference with key equipment on some planes.Some flights have been canceled since Verizon and AT&amp;T turned on their new networks last month, but predictions of widespread cancellations turned out to be wrong. The Federal Aviation Administration has cleared 90% of the nation’s airline fleet to land during poor visibility at airports near 5G cell towers.Those approvals are being made each month, plane by plane, based on the model of radio altimeter that they use to measure their height above the ground. Some “lower-performing” planes are still restricted, and a permanent fix for the entire fleet is likely at least a year away, FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson said during a hearing of the House aviation subcommittee.The CEOs of American Airlines and United Airlines have said they don’t expect any more disruptions. However, more than half of the planes operated by regional airlines remain restricted during bad weather, said Faye Malarkey Black, president of a trade group for the smaller carriers, some of which operate flights for American Eagle, United Express and Delta Connection.Black said cancellations are still occurring, and more than one-fourth of flights at the three major airports in the New York City areas are operated by smaller planes that can’t land there during bad weather because of restrictions related to 5G.Verizon and AT&amp;T agreed to two delays before launching most of their planned new 5G service on Jan. 19 except near airports, where they agreed not to turn on new cell towers for the time being.Dozens of flights were canceled because of 5G concerns after the services went live, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-travel-lifestyle-business-air-travel-2e94c5d153ad6dd756196e9b1577dcd3">widespread cancellations were avoided</a>.The current, temporary fix came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-business-federal-aviation-administration-658c00d4d281bf11772b7ce457c3e244">after the White House stepped&nbsp;</a>in to settle a lack of cooperation between the FAA and the Federal Communications Commission that threatened to create massive disruptions for airlines and passengers.Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., told Dickson that FAA’s last-minute directives about operating around 5G indicates “that you really didn’t have a plan and didn’t understand the gravity of the situation ahead of time.”Dickson said FAA couldn’t authorize low-visibility flights near the new signals until it got information from the telecom companies about the location, height and power of their 5G towers.The FAA chief said regulators and experts from both industries are now working together. Last week, the FAA said that new data from the companies cleared the way for activating more towers close to airports.House Transportation Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., blamed the clash on the FCC, which approved plans by Verizon and AT&amp;T to launch faster and more reliable 5G service using the C-Band part of the radio spectrum that is close to the range used by airplane altimeters, which are critical for landing in poor visibility.DeFazio said he and aviation interests raised concerns about possible interference for several years, but the FCC ignored them and auctioned off 5G spectrum without ensuring there would be no interference with aviation.“Having a dropped call is way less serious than having a dropped airplane,” he said.The FCC has said it provided enough buffer between C-Band and radio altimeters to prevent interference.FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel was invited to testify but had a conflict, according to an agency spokesman, who declined to describe the conflict. He said that Rosenworcel spoke separately on Wednesday with DeFazio and the chairman of the aviation subcommittee, Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash.The FCC and the telecom companies say that 40 other countries have rolled out C-Band 5G service without any reports of radio interference with planes. Aviation groups say those countries have lower-power 5G signals or impose other restrictions on the service to prevent interference, a claim that is disputed by the telecom industry.Meredith Baker, president of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, said that an aviation group’s 2020 study that raised serious concern about interference was flawed and distorted by presenting worst-case scenarios.DeFazio and Larsen countered that aviation safety requires considering even implausible events.“That’s what we plan for — the worst case,” DeFazio said.___

Congress takes up controversy over 5G service near airports

NEW YORK (AP) — Meta is putting a lot of virtual eggs — and billions of dollars — into the metaverse basket, and Wall Street is pretty anxious about it.

Shares of the company formerly known as Facebook saw a historic plunge Thursday after the social media giant reported a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-meta-shares-plunge-mark-zuckerberg-d01a0a4c12dc24fa2150a1a3ea2ac836">rare profit decline</a>&nbsp;due to a sharp rise in expenses, shaky ad revenue growth, competition from TikTok and fewer daily U.S. users on its flagship platform.

At the same time, it invested more than $10 billion in CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s ambitious plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-meta-mark-zuckerberg-technology-business-5ad543ab7780caae435935f0aca9fac6">transform Meta Platforms Inc.</a>&nbsp;into a virtual reality — actually, make that “metaverse-based” — company.

Meta’s shares fell more than 23% to $246.76 in afternoon trading Thursday, lopping more than $215 billion off the company’s overall value, known as its market capitalization. A drop that big would be the largest ever for a single company on a single day.

“Meta is sacrificing its core business model for its fascination with the metaverse,” said Rachel Jones, an analyst with the research firm GlobalData. “Betting big on the metaverse isn’t a bad thing — the technology is set to be huge and provide a multitude of opportunities — but it will take at least another decade to really get going.”

While tech companies are accustomed to making big bets on futuristic-sounding ideas that sometimes become reality — and come with a huge payoff — Wall Street doesn’t like uncertainty. There’s also the inconvenient fact of Facebook’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/the-facebook-papers-covid-vaccine-misinformation-c8bbc569be7cc2ca583dadb4236a0613">continued difficulty</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-haugen-congress-testimony-1daac7a76ca7bf0b0802cc46e732b51b">dealing with toxic real-world effects</a>&nbsp;on its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/the-facebook-papers-whistleblower-misinfo-trafficking-64f11ccae637cdfb7a89e049c5095dca">existing platform</a>.

There’s “continued concern that Facebook’s past challenges will follow Meta into the metaverse,” said Mike Proulx, research director at Forrester Research. “The company has work to do to convince consumers that Meta’s expression of the metaverse is a good thing,”

Since Meta took on its new name last fall, the company has been shifting resources and hiring engineers — including from competitors like Apple and Google — who can help Zuckerberg realize his vision.

Think of the metaverse as the internet brought to life, or at least rendered in 3D. Zuckerberg has described it as a “virtual environment” in which you can immerse yourself instead of just staring at a screen. Theoretically, the metaverse would be a place where people can meet, work and play using virtual reality headsets, augmented reality glasses, smartphone apps or other devices.

It might sound like science fiction, but then again, not long ago so were computers that fit in your pocket, driverless cars and microwaves that talk to you. Technology barrels ahead whether we like it or not and, to quote a vintage Facebook motivational poster in the company’s headquarters, “fortune favors the bold.” Despite an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-facebook-papers">enormous backlash&nbsp;</a>to Facebook’s problems ranging from misinformation and privacy mishaps to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-knows-instagram-is-toxic-for-teen-girls-company-documents-show-11631620739?mod=article_inline" target="_blank">teen mental health</a>&nbsp;and hate speech, Zuckerberg continues to believe that bold bets to steer the company in new directions have generally paid off.

In a Wednesday conference call, Zuckerberg said the company’s investments this year will focus on Reels — a TikTok-esque short form video service on Instagram — as well as messaging, ads, commerce, privacy, artificial intelligence “and, of course, the metaverse.”

“Making meaningful progress across all seven of these areas is going to improve the services we offer today and will help power a social, intuitive, and entertaining metaverse,” he said. But he acknowledged that “this fully realized vision is still a ways off, and although the direction is clear, our path ahead is not perfectly defined.”

But while Wall Street’s metaverse optimism appears to fall well short off Zuckerberg’s, Meta’s rivals are ramping up their own metaverse projects. This includes Apple, Google and Microsoft, which recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-activision-blizzard-acquisition-call-of-duty-7a9e2bcc8f0b7b9049e4f93fe3e0a4dd">bought the video game company</a>&nbsp;Activision Blizzard with the hopes of accelerating its ambitions for the metaverse.

But it’s not just the big companies. According to app analytics company SensorTower, 86 apps added “metaverse” to their title or description from November 2021 through January of this year. To date, 552 mobile apps include the term “metaverse” in their title or description.

Stifel analyst Mark Kelley sought to calm investors, noting that Zuckerberg outlined not one but seven investment priorities for the company this year. He said he doesn’t think Meta’s initial goal of reaching 1 billion metaverse users is a stretch — and importantly, he believes only 40% would be gamers, signaling its broader appeal.

Meta’s stock plunge doesn’t discourage metaverse enthusiast and venture capitalist Matthew Ball, who months before Facebook’s renaming started an index fund of metaverse-related companies. Meta the company is one of the 45 stocks in Ball’s index.

“Mark’s focus on the next-generation internet is actually justified by the fact they can see in their core business that growth is slowing, that users are shifting elsewhere, and in particular, young users are shifting to these virtual and immersive worlds where they’re a small participant and where their investments are focused,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643910542552.png" alt="Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Meta is putting a lot of virtual eggs — and billions of dollars — into the metaverse basket, and Wall Street is pretty anxious about it.Shares of the company formerly known as Facebook saw a historic plunge Thursday after the social media giant reported a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-meta-shares-plunge-mark-zuckerberg-d01a0a4c12dc24fa2150a1a3ea2ac836">rare profit decline</a>&nbsp;due to a sharp rise in expenses, shaky ad revenue growth, competition from TikTok and fewer daily U.S. users on its flagship platform.At the same time, it invested more than $10 billion in CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s ambitious plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-meta-mark-zuckerberg-technology-business-5ad543ab7780caae435935f0aca9fac6">transform Meta Platforms Inc.</a>&nbsp;into a virtual reality — actually, make that “metaverse-based” — company.Meta’s shares fell more than 23% to $246.76 in afternoon trading Thursday, lopping more than $215 billion off the company’s overall value, known as its market capitalization. A drop that big would be the largest ever for a single company on a single day.“Meta is sacrificing its core business model for its fascination with the metaverse,” said Rachel Jones, an analyst with the research firm GlobalData. “Betting big on the metaverse isn’t a bad thing — the technology is set to be huge and provide a multitude of opportunities — but it will take at least another decade to really get going.”While tech companies are accustomed to making big bets on futuristic-sounding ideas that sometimes become reality — and come with a huge payoff — Wall Street doesn’t like uncertainty. There’s also the inconvenient fact of Facebook’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/the-facebook-papers-covid-vaccine-misinformation-c8bbc569be7cc2ca583dadb4236a0613">continued difficulty</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-haugen-congress-testimony-1daac7a76ca7bf0b0802cc46e732b51b">dealing with toxic real-world effects</a>&nbsp;on its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/the-facebook-papers-whistleblower-misinfo-trafficking-64f11ccae637cdfb7a89e049c5095dca">existing platform</a>.There’s “continued concern that Facebook’s past challenges will follow Meta into the metaverse,” said Mike Proulx, research director at Forrester Research. “The company has work to do to convince consumers that Meta’s expression of the metaverse is a good thing,”Since Meta took on its new name last fall, the company has been shifting resources and hiring engineers — including from competitors like Apple and Google — who can help Zuckerberg realize his vision.Think of the metaverse as the internet brought to life, or at least rendered in 3D. Zuckerberg has described it as a “virtual environment” in which you can immerse yourself instead of just staring at a screen. Theoretically, the metaverse would be a place where people can meet, work and play using virtual reality headsets, augmented reality glasses, smartphone apps or other devices.It might sound like science fiction, but then again, not long ago so were computers that fit in your pocket, driverless cars and microwaves that talk to you. Technology barrels ahead whether we like it or not and, to quote a vintage Facebook motivational poster in the company’s headquarters, “fortune favors the bold.” Despite an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-facebook-papers">enormous backlash&nbsp;</a>to Facebook’s problems ranging from misinformation and privacy mishaps to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-knows-instagram-is-toxic-for-teen-girls-company-documents-show-11631620739?mod=article_inline" target="_blank">teen mental health</a>&nbsp;and hate speech, Zuckerberg continues to believe that bold bets to steer the company in new directions have generally paid off.In a Wednesday conference call, Zuckerberg said the company’s investments this year will focus on Reels — a TikTok-esque short form video service on Instagram — as well as messaging, ads, commerce, privacy, artificial intelligence “and, of course, the metaverse.”“Making meaningful progress across all seven of these areas is going to improve the services we offer today and will help power a social, intuitive, and entertaining metaverse,” he said. But he acknowledged that “this fully realized vision is still a ways off, and although the direction is clear, our path ahead is not perfectly defined.”But while Wall Street’s metaverse optimism appears to fall well short off Zuckerberg’s, Meta’s rivals are ramping up their own metaverse projects. This includes Apple, Google and Microsoft, which recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-activision-blizzard-acquisition-call-of-duty-7a9e2bcc8f0b7b9049e4f93fe3e0a4dd">bought the video game company</a>&nbsp;Activision Blizzard with the hopes of accelerating its ambitions for the metaverse.But it’s not just the big companies. According to app analytics company SensorTower, 86 apps added “metaverse” to their title or description from November 2021 through January of this year. To date, 552 mobile apps include the term “metaverse” in their title or description.Stifel analyst Mark Kelley sought to calm investors, noting that Zuckerberg outlined not one but seven investment priorities for the company this year. He said he doesn’t think Meta’s initial goal of reaching 1 billion metaverse users is a stretch — and importantly, he believes only 40% would be gamers, signaling its broader appeal.Meta’s stock plunge doesn’t discourage metaverse enthusiast and venture capitalist Matthew Ball, who months before Facebook’s renaming started an index fund of metaverse-related companies. Meta the company is one of the 45 stocks in Ball’s index.“Mark’s focus on the next-generation internet is actually justified by the fact they can see in their core business that growth is slowing, that users are shifting elsewhere, and in particular, young users are shifting to these virtual and immersive worlds where they’re a small participant and where their investments are focused,” he said.___

TikTok hurting Facebook: Historic loss of $215 billion in value

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/03/fencing-tax-exemption-for-kansas-wildfire-victims-held-up-over-senate-amendment/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — House support for a bill
 providing a tax exemption on any materials purchased to repair or 
replace fencing destroyed by a natural disaster hit a snag Tuesday over a
 property tax amendment added by the Senate.

<a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb318/">Senate Bill 318</a> is a direct response to the December wildfires that burned more than 160,000 acres across 12 counties.

However, during debate on the Senate floor, lawmakers added a new 
section to the bill that raised concerns among some House members and 
county representatives. The amendment expands the eligibility for 
property tax abatements to allow for buildings and improvements to 
qualify if damaged by natural disasters.

Under current law, the board of county commissioners, after making findings, determine whether to allow the abatement request.

“Expanding eligibility would make the job of the county appraiser 
almost impossible, as they would have to visit and review properties 
after any event to change the valuation during the tax year,” said Jay 
Hall, deputy director of the Kansas Association of Counties. “This would
 make tax receipts extremely unpredictable, and because county budgets 
are based largely on property taxes, changing valuations during the tax 
year could create substantial budget uncertainty for counties and 
smaller taxing subdivisions.”

According to estimates from the Department of Revenue, the state will
 not receive about $1.4 million in tax revenue if legislators approve 
the exemption. Property tax exemptions could also hurt local government 
budgets.

Hall noted that small tax subdivisions would not have any property 
tax base to draw from should a significant portion of a district be 
destroyed, leaving other properties to pick up the tax burden.

“In addition to the uncertainty that this would create, it could 
destroy the budget for necessary services in the aftermath of a 
disaster,” Hall said. “This would be a bad outcome for not only those 
residents who are attempting to rebuild, but also for those whose 
property was not damaged.”

Despite concerns on the amendment, Hall voiced support for the base 
bill alongside representatives from the Kansas Farm Bureau, the Kansas 
Livestock Association and several other agricultural groups.

A frustrated Rep. Ken Corbet, a Topeka Republican, responded to 
Hall’s concerns by asking his fellow legislators to worry more about the
 people who need relief than the bureaucracy of local government.

“When somebody loses their entire livelihood, their farm, their 
house, you’re worried about the tax base,” Corbet said. “I think if you 
turn it around, you might think a little bit more about ‘we the people.’
 ”

Rep. Jim Gartner, a Topeka Democrat, expressed disappointment the 
Senate chose to add the amendment despite originally expressing a desire
 to keep the bill clean. Now, he said, the bill is stuck in committee, 
rather than on its way to the governor to help Kansans, because the 
Senate inserted a property tax proposal that failed to move forward the 
past two years.

“This really frustrates the heck out of me that we work diligently, 
very hard, and here we are holding that whole bill up,” Gartner said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643902798138.png" alt="Jay Hall, deputy director of the Kansas Association of Counties, said a Senate amendment expanding eligibility for property tax abatements to allow for buildings damaged by a natural disaster to qualify could have an adverse effect on local government budgets. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature Youtube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Jay Hall, deputy director of the Kansas Association of Counties, said a Senate amendment expanding eligibility for property tax abatements to allow for buildings damaged by a natural disaster to qualify could have an adverse effect on local government budgets. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature Youtube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/03/fencing-tax-exemption-for-kansas-wildfire-victims-held-up-over-senate-amendment/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — House support for a bill
 providing a tax exemption on any materials purchased to repair or 
replace fencing destroyed by a natural disaster hit a snag Tuesday over a
 property tax amendment added by the Senate.<a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb318/">Senate Bill 318</a> is a direct response to the December wildfires that burned more than 160,000 acres across 12 counties.However, during debate on the Senate floor, lawmakers added a new 
section to the bill that raised concerns among some House members and 
county representatives. The amendment expands the eligibility for 
property tax abatements to allow for buildings and improvements to 
qualify if damaged by natural disasters.Under current law, the board of county commissioners, after making findings, determine whether to allow the abatement request.“Expanding eligibility would make the job of the county appraiser 
almost impossible, as they would have to visit and review properties 
after any event to change the valuation during the tax year,” said Jay 
Hall, deputy director of the Kansas Association of Counties. “This would
 make tax receipts extremely unpredictable, and because county budgets 
are based largely on property taxes, changing valuations during the tax 
year could create substantial budget uncertainty for counties and 
smaller taxing subdivisions.”According to estimates from the Department of Revenue, the state will
 not receive about $1.4 million in tax revenue if legislators approve 
the exemption. Property tax exemptions could also hurt local government 
budgets.Hall noted that small tax subdivisions would not have any property 
tax base to draw from should a significant portion of a district be 
destroyed, leaving other properties to pick up the tax burden.“In addition to the uncertainty that this would create, it could 
destroy the budget for necessary services in the aftermath of a 
disaster,” Hall said. “This would be a bad outcome for not only those 
residents who are attempting to rebuild, but also for those whose 
property was not damaged.”Despite concerns on the amendment, Hall voiced support for the base 
bill alongside representatives from the Kansas Farm Bureau, the Kansas 
Livestock Association and several other agricultural groups.A frustrated Rep. Ken Corbet, a Topeka Republican, responded to 
Hall’s concerns by asking his fellow legislators to worry more about the
 people who need relief than the bureaucracy of local government.“When somebody loses their entire livelihood, their farm, their 
house, you’re worried about the tax base,” Corbet said. “I think if you 
turn it around, you might think a little bit more about ‘we the people.’
 ”Rep. Jim Gartner, a Topeka Democrat, expressed disappointment the 
Senate chose to add the amendment despite originally expressing a desire
 to keep the bill clean. Now, he said, the bill is stuck in committee, 
rather than on its way to the governor to help Kansans, because the 
Senate inserted a property tax proposal that failed to move forward the 
past two years.“This really frustrates the heck out of me that we work diligently, 
very hard, and here we are holding that whole bill up,” Gartner said.

Tax exemption for Kan. wildfire victims held up over amendment

KANSAS CITY (AP) —With teacher absences mounting and substitutes in short supply, parents may be wondering: Who’s teaching the kids?

The answer around the U.S. could be a local police officer, National Guard soldier, state budget analyst, parent or recent high school graduate — nearly anyone willing to help keep schools’ doors open through the omicron-driven staffing crunch.

States have been loosening teaching requirements to give schools more flexibility on hiring as coronavirus exposures, illness and quarantines add to strains on schools that also have been tapping librarians, custodians and support staff to help cover classrooms during the pandemic.

Brian McKinney, a parent with students in second and 10th grade in Hays County, Texas, spent part of this week as a substitute, helping sixth graders through a social studies assignment that had them writing essays about the Soviet Union. A former teacher, he decided he could help as he waited out a cold snap that has slowed business at the World War II-themed miniature golf course he and his wife now own.

“There was no down time today; I was heavily involved with the kids,” he said after school Tuesday.

The measures have kept schools from having to revert to the waves of remote learning that disrupted homes and left many students behind earlier in the pandemic. Supporters say it’s better to have students in school, where they are supervised and have access to food and services, even if the solutions fall short academically.

Still, the lowering of the bar for teachers raises some concerns about whether schools are just treading water. In some cases when possible, virtual school taught by students’ regular teachers could be a better alternative, said Richard Ingersoll, an expert on the teaching profession at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Remote sometimes might be much more preferable to getting some substitute in there who’s basically babysitting,” he said.

Governors have been issuing executive orders to make more people eligible to work in schools. In states including California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, governors have taken action to give schools more flexibility to bring back retired teachers for short-term assignments.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox have made it possible for schools to dip into the states’ workforces.

Cox’s executive order allows state workers, including budget analysts, social workers and highway patrol officers, to take up to 30 hours of administrative leave to work as substitute teachers or in other school jobs. Oklahoma’s initiative lets state workers volunteer as substitute teachers and continue to receive their state salary.

“We know that kids learn best in the classroom, so we want to do what we can to help schools stay open. Our teachers and our children deserve our support during this difficult phase of the pandemic,” Cox said in a statement.

In Kansas, the state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-covid-19-pandemic-kansas-93137a2c94692b2cfdf5f878d1e9daca">Board of Education has begun allowing districts to hire substitute teachers as young as 18&nbsp;</a>and with little more than a high school diploma after waiving requirements they have at least 60 college credits, the equivalent of at least two years, to receive a temporary license. The changes will last only until June 1, when the more stringent requirements will return.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-nevada-bccaa7cd49e59d875b78081342d01d06">State officials in Nevada will consider a similar change</a>&nbsp;for emergencies for the state’s two most populous counties later this month. Currently, substitute teachers must have at least 60 college credits — or an associate degree or higher — to obtain a license.

In addition to asking state workers to step up,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-new-mexico-michelle-lujan-grisham-teaching-eaa5e804bc4f3c98efc0c8b14f2fb94e">New Mexico has called in the National Guard</a>&nbsp;to work as substitute teachers, an unprecedented move that has troops drawing their usual pay for serving on active duty.

At least some schools are choosing to prioritize time with professional teachers, even if it means students don’t keep a full schedule.

In Millville Public Schools in New Jersey, administrators were so concerned about the toll on learning after months of staffing challenges that they moved middle and high school students to a half-day schedule — with teachers -- for the month of February.

“After an analysis of our staffing over the past 5 months, we determined instruction at the secondary level has been severely impacted due to students’ lack of access to direct instruction on a daily basis. Moving to an early dismissal schedule will address our staffing shortages by utilizing our current employees so that we are delivering consistent instruction from teaching professionals,” a notice on the district’s website said.

In the Hays Consolidated Independent School District in Texas, where McKinney filled in as a sub this week, at one point in January the district needed 455 subs in a single day, well over the usual 185, and could fill only 40% of the need, district spokesperson Tim Savoy said.

The district raised the pay to an average of $120 a day, up from about $90, and invited parents to join the ranks of substitutes, waiving for some a requirement they have 30 hours of college. About half of the 60 new subs hired in January were parents, Savoy said.

After an orientation that included refreshers on things like classroom management and discipline, along with a background check that included fingerprinting, there are days McKinney has his pick from a long list of assignments but gravitates first to his specialties of history and physical education.

He said remote learning was hard on families like his that had to juggle kids and jobs, and he praised the district for working to stay open, even if it meant making exceptions for those running the classrooms.

“That’s a huge emotional and physiological burden on families,” he said of virtual school, “so I think Hays is just trying to figure out every possible option to not have to do that to families.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) —With teacher absences mounting and substitutes in short supply, parents may be wondering: Who’s teaching the kids?The answer around the U.S. could be a local police officer, National Guard soldier, state budget analyst, parent or recent high school graduate — nearly anyone willing to help keep schools’ doors open through the omicron-driven staffing crunch.States have been loosening teaching requirements to give schools more flexibility on hiring as coronavirus exposures, illness and quarantines add to strains on schools that also have been tapping librarians, custodians and support staff to help cover classrooms during the pandemic.Brian McKinney, a parent with students in second and 10th grade in Hays County, Texas, spent part of this week as a substitute, helping sixth graders through a social studies assignment that had them writing essays about the Soviet Union. A former teacher, he decided he could help as he waited out a cold snap that has slowed business at the World War II-themed miniature golf course he and his wife now own.“There was no down time today; I was heavily involved with the kids,” he said after school Tuesday.The measures have kept schools from having to revert to the waves of remote learning that disrupted homes and left many students behind earlier in the pandemic. Supporters say it’s better to have students in school, where they are supervised and have access to food and services, even if the solutions fall short academically.Still, the lowering of the bar for teachers raises some concerns about whether schools are just treading water. In some cases when possible, virtual school taught by students’ regular teachers could be a better alternative, said Richard Ingersoll, an expert on the teaching profession at the University of Pennsylvania.“Remote sometimes might be much more preferable to getting some substitute in there who’s basically babysitting,” he said.Governors have been issuing executive orders to make more people eligible to work in schools. In states including California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, governors have taken action to give schools more flexibility to bring back retired teachers for short-term assignments.Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox have made it possible for schools to dip into the states’ workforces.Cox’s executive order allows state workers, including budget analysts, social workers and highway patrol officers, to take up to 30 hours of administrative leave to work as substitute teachers or in other school jobs. Oklahoma’s initiative lets state workers volunteer as substitute teachers and continue to receive their state salary.“We know that kids learn best in the classroom, so we want to do what we can to help schools stay open. Our teachers and our children deserve our support during this difficult phase of the pandemic,” Cox said in a statement.In Kansas, the state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-covid-19-pandemic-kansas-93137a2c94692b2cfdf5f878d1e9daca">Board of Education has begun allowing districts to hire substitute teachers as young as 18&nbsp;</a>and with little more than a high school diploma after waiving requirements they have at least 60 college credits, the equivalent of at least two years, to receive a temporary license. The changes will last only until June 1, when the more stringent requirements will return.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-education-nevada-bccaa7cd49e59d875b78081342d01d06">State officials in Nevada will consider a similar change</a>&nbsp;for emergencies for the state’s two most populous counties later this month. Currently, substitute teachers must have at least 60 college credits — or an associate degree or higher — to obtain a license.In addition to asking state workers to step up,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-new-mexico-michelle-lujan-grisham-teaching-eaa5e804bc4f3c98efc0c8b14f2fb94e">New Mexico has called in the National Guard</a>&nbsp;to work as substitute teachers, an unprecedented move that has troops drawing their usual pay for serving on active duty.At least some schools are choosing to prioritize time with professional teachers, even if it means students don’t keep a full schedule.In Millville Public Schools in New Jersey, administrators were so concerned about the toll on learning after months of staffing challenges that they moved middle and high school students to a half-day schedule — with teachers -- for the month of February.“After an analysis of our staffing over the past 5 months, we determined instruction at the secondary level has been severely impacted due to students’ lack of access to direct instruction on a daily basis. Moving to an early dismissal schedule will address our staffing shortages by utilizing our current employees so that we are delivering consistent instruction from teaching professionals,” a notice on the district’s website said.In the Hays Consolidated Independent School District in Texas, where McKinney filled in as a sub this week, at one point in January the district needed 455 subs in a single day, well over the usual 185, and could fill only 40% of the need, district spokesperson Tim Savoy said.The district raised the pay to an average of $120 a day, up from about $90, and invited parents to join the ranks of substitutes, waiving for some a requirement they have 30 hours of college. About half of the 60 new subs hired in January were parents, Savoy said.After an orientation that included refreshers on things like classroom management and discipline, along with a background check that included fingerprinting, there are days McKinney has his pick from a long list of assignments but gravitates first to his specialties of history and physical education.He said remote learning was hard on families like his that had to juggle kids and jobs, and he praised the district for working to stay open, even if it meant making exceptions for those running the classrooms.“That’s a huge emotional and physiological burden on families,” he said of virtual school, “so I think Hays is just trying to figure out every possible option to not have to do that to families.”

Schools seek volunteer teachers amid COVID staffing crunch

KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-wichita-topeka-legislature-gun-politics-6f61a926a56353a4b22ffecf90c46be3">Kansas’ “stand your ground law” has come under criticism in recent weeks</a>&nbsp; in connection with the custody death of teenager Cedric Lofton in Wichita.

On Tuesday, Missouri senators&nbsp; debated a “stand your ground” bill that backers say will strengthen the state's self-defense laws but that a prosecutor has dubbed the “Make Murder Legal Act.”

Republican Sen. Eric Burlison's bill seeks to give shooters and other assailants the benefit of the doubt that they were acting in self-defense.

If passed, it would mean that prosecutors could not bring charges against people who reasonably believed they were acting in self-defense. Police would need to find probable cause that shooters or other assailants acted unlawfully before arresting them.

Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver, who spoke on behalf of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, called the measure the “Make Murder Legal Act.” He said the changes would “make it impossible to convict a great number of people of assault.”

“An exponential number of violent criminals who should be in prison, they’re going to walk free because of the procedural postures that this bill would put cases in,” Oliver told a Missouri Senate committee Tuesday.

A number of other Missouri law enforcement groups also spoke against the bill.

Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee have laws similar to the Missouri proposal that limit police from making arrests if defendants claim self-defense, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-wichita-topeka-legislature-gun-politics-6f61a926a56353a4b22ffecf90c46be3">Kansas’ “stand your ground law” has come under criticism in recent weeks</a>&nbsp;after a prosecutor said it prevented him from criminally charging employees of a juvenile juvenile intake center in Wichita in the death of a Black teenager who had been restrained on the ground on his stomach, shackled and handcuffed for more than 30 minutes.

St. Louis-area Democratic Sen. Brian Williams, the only Black member of the Senate public safety committee, called the Missouri proposal racist, offensive and “a personal attack on people who look like me.” He said it would have legally sanctioned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0d1a8ed25f1a075844160f253a9d0535">the 2020 fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia.</a>

A jury in November convicted three white men — father and son Greg and Travis McMichael and neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan — of murder in the 25-year-old Black man's death.

“They murdered him,” Williams said. “This bill, if this had been in law in the state of Georgia, they would have walked.”

The McMichaels armed themselves and pursued Arbery in a pickup truck after spotting him running in their neighborhood outside the Georgia port city of Brunswick. Bryan joined the chase in his own truck and recorded cellphone video of Travis McMichael shooting Arbery.

Among those who support the measure is Mark McCloskey — a Republican U.S. Senate candidate who, along with his wife, made headlines in 2020 by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-george-floyd-gun-politics-st-louis-missouri-abdbb0285f3a940ef7dd5038b3474fe9">waving guns at racial injustice protesters</a>.

The McCloskeys, both lawyers in their 60s, eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanors, and Republican Gov. Mike Parson pardoned them weeks later. The McCloskeys said they felt threatened by the protesters who walked onto their private street during protests that followed the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

McCloskey told Williams: “If this bill is a threat to you, it can only be because you’re intending to pose a threat to our citizens.”

The Rev. Darryl Gray, a St. Louis activist who led the protest that went by the McCloskeys' house, said demonstrators could have been shot.

“If I had been killed that day, you're telling me that there shouldn't exist a process with a person that committed the murder, who took a sacred life, should not be questioned?” he asked the Senate committee.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642880340757.png" alt="Cedric Lofton at the Juvenile Intake Assessment Center before his death as seen in the video released by Sedgwick County last month" />
 <figcaption>Cedric Lofton at the Juvenile Intake Assessment Center before his death as seen in the video released by Sedgwick County last month</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-wichita-topeka-legislature-gun-politics-6f61a926a56353a4b22ffecf90c46be3">Kansas’ “stand your ground law” has come under criticism in recent weeks</a>&nbsp; in connection with the custody death of teenager Cedric Lofton in Wichita. On Tuesday, Missouri senators&nbsp; debated a “stand your ground” bill that backers say will strengthen the state's self-defense laws but that a prosecutor has dubbed the “Make Murder Legal Act.”Republican Sen. Eric Burlison's bill seeks to give shooters and other assailants the benefit of the doubt that they were acting in self-defense.If passed, it would mean that prosecutors could not bring charges against people who reasonably believed they were acting in self-defense. Police would need to find probable cause that shooters or other assailants acted unlawfully before arresting them.Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver, who spoke on behalf of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, called the measure the “Make Murder Legal Act.” He said the changes would “make it impossible to convict a great number of people of assault.”“An exponential number of violent criminals who should be in prison, they’re going to walk free because of the procedural postures that this bill would put cases in,” Oliver told a Missouri Senate committee Tuesday.A number of other Missouri law enforcement groups also spoke against the bill.Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee have laws similar to the Missouri proposal that limit police from making arrests if defendants claim self-defense, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-wichita-topeka-legislature-gun-politics-6f61a926a56353a4b22ffecf90c46be3">Kansas’ “stand your ground law” has come under criticism in recent weeks</a>&nbsp;after a prosecutor said it prevented him from criminally charging employees of a juvenile juvenile intake center in Wichita in the death of a Black teenager who had been restrained on the ground on his stomach, shackled and handcuffed for more than 30 minutes.St. Louis-area Democratic Sen. Brian Williams, the only Black member of the Senate public safety committee, called the Missouri proposal racist, offensive and “a personal attack on people who look like me.” He said it would have legally sanctioned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0d1a8ed25f1a075844160f253a9d0535">the 2020 fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia.</a>A jury in November convicted three white men — father and son Greg and Travis McMichael and neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan — of murder in the 25-year-old Black man's death.“They murdered him,” Williams said. “This bill, if this had been in law in the state of Georgia, they would have walked.”The McMichaels armed themselves and pursued Arbery in a pickup truck after spotting him running in their neighborhood outside the Georgia port city of Brunswick. Bryan joined the chase in his own truck and recorded cellphone video of Travis McMichael shooting Arbery.Among those who support the measure is Mark McCloskey — a Republican U.S. Senate candidate who, along with his wife, made headlines in 2020 by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-george-floyd-gun-politics-st-louis-missouri-abdbb0285f3a940ef7dd5038b3474fe9">waving guns at racial injustice protesters</a>.The McCloskeys, both lawyers in their 60s, eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanors, and Republican Gov. Mike Parson pardoned them weeks later. The McCloskeys said they felt threatened by the protesters who walked onto their private street during protests that followed the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.McCloskey told Williams: “If this bill is a threat to you, it can only be because you’re intending to pose a threat to our citizens.”The Rev. Darryl Gray, a St. Louis activist who led the protest that went by the McCloskeys' house, said demonstrators could have been shot.“If I had been killed that day, you're telling me that there shouldn't exist a process with a person that committed the murder, who took a sacred life, should not be questioned?” he asked the Senate committee.

Prosecutor slams self defense bill as 'Make Murder Legal Act'

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration, seeking to fill a frustrating gap in <a href="https://www.covidtests.gov/">COVID-19 testing coverage</a>, announced on Thursday that people with Medicare will be able to get free over-the-counter tests much more easily in the coming weeks.

The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21196643-medicare-covid-19-otc-test-faq" target="_blank">Medicare will cover up to eight free tests per month</a>, starting in early spring. The tests will be handed out at participating pharmacies and other locations. They’ll be available to people who have Medicare’s “Part B” outpatient benefit, which about 9 in 10 enrollees sign up for.

Last month, the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-cb49a8458f33a698c3a4f3b721835270">directed private insurers</a>&nbsp;to cover up to eight free tests a month for people on their plans. Officials said at the time they were still trying to figure out what to do about Medicare, which covers more than 60 million people, most of them age 65 or older and more vulnerable to severe illness from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">coronavirus infection</a>. Medicare benefits are governed by arcane laws and regulations, and officials said Thursday this the first time the program has covered an over-the-counter test at no cost to recipients.

People with Medicare Advantage, a private insurance option that covers about 4 in 10 Medicare enrollees, will also have access to free COVID-19 tests through their plans, officials said.

The new policy deals with so-called rapid tests, which provide at-home results in about 15 minutes. Many families use the tests before getting together for special occasions or when grandparents travel from out of state to see grandkids they haven’t been able to play with for months due to COVID-19 isolation. Some testmakers pitch older adults directly in their marketing.

Medicare also will continue to cover the more precise lab-based PCR tests at no cost, but those must be ordered by a clinician or an authorized health care professional.

Before Thursday’s announcement, Medicare enrollees did have options for getting free at-home tests, and those will remain available while the new policy is going into effect. Those options include requesting four free tests for home delivery through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covidtests.gov/" target="_blank">covidtests.gov</a>&nbsp;or picking free tests up from community locations such as libraries or senior centers that distribute them.

At-home tests were in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-home-testing-kits-supply-demand-57f8ec4b7bc78d0e70216b91717287ee">vexingly short supply</a>&nbsp;at pharmacies as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-california-public-health-83c0a053bfdd615b5ae7170007c2f1f9">the omicron wave</a>&nbsp;gained momentum in December, and some consumers find that’s still the case. However, an all-out drive by the White House to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-jen-psaki-08ee41d8e7c0af1ad8b4dfb7b434ea61">500 million free tests</a>&nbsp;and greatly expand production capacity is starting to show results, although they can vary by community and by pharmacy location.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638546938939.png" alt="<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21196643-medicare-covid-19-otc-test-faq" target="_blank">Medicare will cover up to eight free tests per month</a>, starting in early spring" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21196643-medicare-covid-19-otc-test-faq" target="_blank">Medicare will cover up to eight free tests per month</a>, starting in early spring</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration, seeking to fill a frustrating gap in <a href="https://www.covidtests.gov/">COVID-19 testing coverage</a>, announced on Thursday that people with Medicare will be able to get free over-the-counter tests much more easily in the coming weeks.The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21196643-medicare-covid-19-otc-test-faq" target="_blank">Medicare will cover up to eight free tests per month</a>, starting in early spring. The tests will be handed out at participating pharmacies and other locations. They’ll be available to people who have Medicare’s “Part B” outpatient benefit, which about 9 in 10 enrollees sign up for.Last month, the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-cb49a8458f33a698c3a4f3b721835270">directed private insurers</a>&nbsp;to cover up to eight free tests a month for people on their plans. Officials said at the time they were still trying to figure out what to do about Medicare, which covers more than 60 million people, most of them age 65 or older and more vulnerable to severe illness from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">coronavirus infection</a>. Medicare benefits are governed by arcane laws and regulations, and officials said Thursday this the first time the program has covered an over-the-counter test at no cost to recipients.People with Medicare Advantage, a private insurance option that covers about 4 in 10 Medicare enrollees, will also have access to free COVID-19 tests through their plans, officials said.The new policy deals with so-called rapid tests, which provide at-home results in about 15 minutes. Many families use the tests before getting together for special occasions or when grandparents travel from out of state to see grandkids they haven’t been able to play with for months due to COVID-19 isolation. Some testmakers pitch older adults directly in their marketing.Medicare also will continue to cover the more precise lab-based PCR tests at no cost, but those must be ordered by a clinician or an authorized health care professional.Before Thursday’s announcement, Medicare enrollees did have options for getting free at-home tests, and those will remain available while the new policy is going into effect. Those options include requesting four free tests for home delivery through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covidtests.gov/" target="_blank">covidtests.gov</a>&nbsp;or picking free tests up from community locations such as libraries or senior centers that distribute them.At-home tests were in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-home-testing-kits-supply-demand-57f8ec4b7bc78d0e70216b91717287ee">vexingly short supply</a>&nbsp;at pharmacies as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-california-public-health-83c0a053bfdd615b5ae7170007c2f1f9">the omicron wave</a>&nbsp;gained momentum in December, and some consumers find that’s still the case. However, an all-out drive by the White House to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-jen-psaki-08ee41d8e7c0af1ad8b4dfb7b434ea61">500 million free tests</a>&nbsp;and greatly expand production capacity is starting to show results, although they can vary by community and by pharmacy location.

Medicare opens access to free at-home COVID-19 tests

ATMEH, Syria (AP) — The leader of the violent Islamic State group was killed during an overnight raid carried out by U.S. special forces in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province, President Joe Biden said Thursday.

The raid targeted Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, who took over as head of the militant group on Oct. 31, 2019, just days after leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died during a U.S. raid in the same area. Biden said al-Qurayshi died as al-Baghdadi did, by exploding a bomb that killed himself and members of his family, including women and children, as U.S. forces approached.

The operation came as IS has been trying for a resurgence, with a series of attacks in the region, including an assault late last month to seize a prison in northeast Syria holding at least 3,000 IS detainees, it’s boldest operation in years.

“Thanks to the bravery of our troops this horrible terrorist leader is no more,” Biden said. He said al-Qurayshi had been responsible for the prison strike, as well as genocide against the Yazidi people in Iraq in 2014.

U.S. special forces landed in helicopters and assaulted a house in a rebel-held corner of Syria, clashing for two hours with gunmen, witnesses said. Residents described continuous gunfire and explosions that jolted the town of Atmeh near the Turkish border, an area dotted with camps for internally displaced people from Syria’s civil war.

Biden said he ordered U.S. forces to “take every precaution available to minimize civilian casualties,” adding that was why they chose not to conduct an airstrike on the home.

First responders reported that 13 people had been killed, including six children and four women.

Biden, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and senior national security aides monitored a live-feed of the operation from the White House Situation Room according to an official.

The operation marked a military success for the United States at an important time after setbacks elsewhere — including the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal — have led allies and opponents to conclude U.S. power globally was weakening.

The house, surrounded by olive trees in fields outside Atmeh, was left with its top floor shattered and blood spattered inside. A journalist on assignment for The Associated Press and several residents said they saw body parts scattered near the site. Most residents spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

“The mission was successful,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in a brief statement. “There were no U.S. casualties.”

Idlib is largely controlled by Turkish-backed fighters but is also an al-Qaida stronghold and home to several of its top operatives. Other militants, including extremists from the rival IS group, have also found refuge in the region.

“The first moments were terrifying; no one knew what was happening,” said Jamil el-Deddo, a resident of a nearby refugee camp. “We were worried it could be Syrian aircraft, which brought back memories of barrel bombs that used to be dropped on us,” he added, referring to crude explosives-filled containers used by President Bashar Assad’s forces against opponents during the Syrian conflict.

The top floor of the low house was nearly destroyed; a room there had collapsed, sending white bricks tumbling to the ground below.

Blood could be seen on the walls and floor of the remaining structure. A wrecked bedroom had a child’s wooden crib and a stuffed rabbit doll. On one damaged wall, a blue plastic baby swing was still hanging. Religious books, including a biography of Islam’s Prophet Mohammad, were in the house.

Al-Qurayshi had kept an extremely low profile since he took over leadership of the Islamic State. He had not appeared in public, and rarely released any audio recordings. His influence and day-to-day involvement in the group’s operations was not known and it is difficult to gauge how his death will affect the group.

His killing, however, is a significant blow just as the group had been trying to reassert itself in Syria and Iraq.

The opposition-run Syrian Civil Defense, first responders also known as the White Helmets, said 13 people were killed in shelling and clashes that ensued after the U.S. commando raid.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, also said the strike killed 13 people, including four children and two women. Ahmad Rahhal, a citizen journalist who visited the site, reported seeing 12 bodies.

The Pentagon provided no details on casualties in the raid.

The Observatory said the troops landed in helicopters. Residents and activists described witnessing a large ground assault, with U.S. forces using megaphones urging women and children to leave the area.

Omar Saleh, a resident of a nearby house, said he was asleep when his doors and windows started to rattle to the sound of low-flying aircraft at 1:10 a.m. local time. He ran to open the windows with the lights off, and saw three helicopters. He then heard a man, speaking Arabic with an Iraqi or Saudi accent through a loudspeaker, urging women to surrender or leave the area.

“This went on for 45 minutes. There was no response. Then the machine gun fire erupted,” Saleh said. He said the firing continued for two hours, as aircraft circled low over the area.

Taher al-Omar, an Idlib-based activist, said he witnessed clashes between fighters and the U.S. force. Others reported hearing at least one major explosion during the operation. A U.S. official said that one of the helicopters in the raid suffered a mechanical problem and had to be blown up on the ground.

The military operation got attention on social media, with tweets from the region describing helicopters firing around the building near Atmeh. Flight-tracking data also suggested that multiple drones were circling the city of Sarmada and the village of Salwah, just north of the raid’s location.

Through slickly engineered propaganda, including brutal beheading videos, IS emerged as a dominant global extremist threat in the past decade. Its clarion call to followers in the West to either join its self-described caliphate in Syria, or to commit acts of violence at home, inspired killings in the U.S. as well as thousands of travelers determined to become foreign fighters. The allure of IS to would-be militants has proved challenging for the West to fully stamp out even amid leadership changes and U.S. military strikes and raids.

At the height of its territorial conquests around 2014, the Islamic State controlled more than 40,000 square miles stretching from Syria to Iraq and ruled over 8 million people.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-syria-middle-east-racial-injustice-iraq-e0c9bdc100f6ad74fb52d63a188ac978">Islamic State group has been reasserting itself</a>&nbsp;in Syria and Iraq with increased attacks.

Last month, it carried out its biggest military operation since it was defeated and its members scattered underground in 2019: an attack on a prison in northeast Syria holding at least 3,000 IS detainees. The attack appeared aimed to break free senior IS operatives in the prison.

It took 10 days of fighting for U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led forces to retake the prison fully, and the force said more than 120 of its fighters and prison workers were killed along with 374 militants. The U.S.-led coalition carried out airstrikes and deployed American personnel in Bradley Fighting Vehicles to the prison area to help the Kurdish forces.

A senior SDF official, Nowruz Ahmad, said Monday that the prison assault was part of a broader plot that IS had been preparing for a long time, including attacks on other neighborhoods in Kurdish-run northeastern Syria and on the al-Hol camp in the south, which houses thousands of families of IS members.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643896451643.png" alt="President Biden, Vice President Harris and members of the President’s national security team observe the counterterrorism operation responsible for removing from the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi — the leader of ISIS.-White House photo " />
 <figcaption>President Biden, Vice President Harris and members of the President’s national security team observe the counterterrorism operation responsible for removing from the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi — the leader of ISIS.-White House photo </figcaption>
 </figure>ATMEH, Syria (AP) — The leader of the violent Islamic State group was killed during an overnight raid carried out by U.S. special forces in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province, President Joe Biden said Thursday.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F3107076899540438%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=160" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The raid targeted Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, who took over as head of the militant group on Oct. 31, 2019, just days after leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died during a U.S. raid in the same area. Biden said al-Qurayshi died as al-Baghdadi did, by exploding a bomb that killed himself and members of his family, including women and children, as U.S. forces approached.The operation came as IS has been trying for a resurgence, with a series of attacks in the region, including an assault late last month to seize a prison in northeast Syria holding at least 3,000 IS detainees, it’s boldest operation in years.“Thanks to the bravery of our troops this horrible terrorist leader is no more,” Biden said. He said al-Qurayshi had been responsible for the prison strike, as well as genocide against the Yazidi people in Iraq in 2014.U.S. special forces landed in helicopters and assaulted a house in a rebel-held corner of Syria, clashing for two hours with gunmen, witnesses said. Residents described continuous gunfire and explosions that jolted the town of Atmeh near the Turkish border, an area dotted with camps for internally displaced people from Syria’s civil war.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643902134347.png" alt="President Biden addressed the nation early Thursday-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden addressed the nation early Thursday-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Biden said he ordered U.S. forces to “take every precaution available to minimize civilian casualties,” adding that was why they chose not to conduct an airstrike on the home.First responders reported that 13 people had been killed, including six children and four women.Biden, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and senior national security aides monitored a live-feed of the operation from the White House Situation Room according to an official.The operation marked a military success for the United States at an important time after setbacks elsewhere — including the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal — have led allies and opponents to conclude U.S. power globally was weakening.The house, surrounded by olive trees in fields outside Atmeh, was left with its top floor shattered and blood spattered inside. A journalist on assignment for The Associated Press and several residents said they saw body parts scattered near the site. Most residents spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.“The mission was successful,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in a brief statement. “There were no U.S. casualties.”Idlib is largely controlled by Turkish-backed fighters but is also an al-Qaida stronghold and home to several of its top operatives. Other militants, including extremists from the rival IS group, have also found refuge in the region.“The first moments were terrifying; no one knew what was happening,” said Jamil el-Deddo, a resident of a nearby refugee camp. “We were worried it could be Syrian aircraft, which brought back memories of barrel bombs that used to be dropped on us,” he added, referring to crude explosives-filled containers used by President Bashar Assad’s forces against opponents during the Syrian conflict.The top floor of the low house was nearly destroyed; a room there had collapsed, sending white bricks tumbling to the ground below.Blood could be seen on the walls and floor of the remaining structure. A wrecked bedroom had a child’s wooden crib and a stuffed rabbit doll. On one damaged wall, a blue plastic baby swing was still hanging. Religious books, including a biography of Islam’s Prophet Mohammad, were in the house.Al-Qurayshi had kept an extremely low profile since he took over leadership of the Islamic State. He had not appeared in public, and rarely released any audio recordings. His influence and day-to-day involvement in the group’s operations was not known and it is difficult to gauge how his death will affect the group.His killing, however, is a significant blow just as the group had been trying to reassert itself in Syria and Iraq.The opposition-run Syrian Civil Defense, first responders also known as the White Helmets, said 13 people were killed in shelling and clashes that ensued after the U.S. commando raid.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, also said the strike killed 13 people, including four children and two women. Ahmad Rahhal, a citizen journalist who visited the site, reported seeing 12 bodies.The Pentagon provided no details on casualties in the raid.The Observatory said the troops landed in helicopters. Residents and activists described witnessing a large ground assault, with U.S. forces using megaphones urging women and children to leave the area.Omar Saleh, a resident of a nearby house, said he was asleep when his doors and windows started to rattle to the sound of low-flying aircraft at 1:10 a.m. local time. He ran to open the windows with the lights off, and saw three helicopters. He then heard a man, speaking Arabic with an Iraqi or Saudi accent through a loudspeaker, urging women to surrender or leave the area.“This went on for 45 minutes. There was no response. Then the machine gun fire erupted,” Saleh said. He said the firing continued for two hours, as aircraft circled low over the area.Taher al-Omar, an Idlib-based activist, said he witnessed clashes between fighters and the U.S. force. Others reported hearing at least one major explosion during the operation. A U.S. official said that one of the helicopters in the raid suffered a mechanical problem and had to be blown up on the ground.The military operation got attention on social media, with tweets from the region describing helicopters firing around the building near Atmeh. Flight-tracking data also suggested that multiple drones were circling the city of Sarmada and the village of Salwah, just north of the raid’s location.Through slickly engineered propaganda, including brutal beheading videos, IS emerged as a dominant global extremist threat in the past decade. Its clarion call to followers in the West to either join its self-described caliphate in Syria, or to commit acts of violence at home, inspired killings in the U.S. as well as thousands of travelers determined to become foreign fighters. The allure of IS to would-be militants has proved challenging for the West to fully stamp out even amid leadership changes and U.S. military strikes and raids.At the height of its territorial conquests around 2014, the Islamic State controlled more than 40,000 square miles stretching from Syria to Iraq and ruled over 8 million people.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-syria-middle-east-racial-injustice-iraq-e0c9bdc100f6ad74fb52d63a188ac978">Islamic State group has been reasserting itself</a>&nbsp;in Syria and Iraq with increased attacks.Last month, it carried out its biggest military operation since it was defeated and its members scattered underground in 2019: an attack on a prison in northeast Syria holding at least 3,000 IS detainees. The attack appeared aimed to break free senior IS operatives in the prison.It took 10 days of fighting for U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led forces to retake the prison fully, and the force said more than 120 of its fighters and prison workers were killed along with 374 militants. The U.S.-led coalition carried out airstrikes and deployed American personnel in Bradley Fighting Vehicles to the prison area to help the Kurdish forces.A senior SDF official, Nowruz Ahmad, said Monday that the prison assault was part of a broader plot that IS had been preparing for a long time, including attacks on other neighborhoods in Kurdish-run northeastern Syria and on the al-Hol camp in the south, which houses thousands of families of IS members.The U.S.-led coalition has targeted high-profile militants on several occasions in recent years, aiming to disrupt what U.S. officials say is a secretive cell known as the Khorasan group that is planning external attacks. A U.S. airstrike killed al-Qaida’s second in command, former bin Laden aide Abu al-Kheir al-Masri, in Syria in 2017.-------ATMEH, Syria (AP) — President Joe Biden says a U.S. special forces raid in northwestern Syria early Thursday killed the top leader of the Islamic State group, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi. Biden said all Americans involved in the operation returned safety. Biden said he would address the American people later Thursday on the raid. First responders at the scene reported 13 people had been killed, including six children and four women. The operation, which residents say lasted over two hours, jolted the sleepy village of Atmeh near the Turkish border----------ATMEH, Syria (AP) — U.S. special forces carried out what the Pentagon said was a large-scale counterterrorism raid in northwestern Syria early Thursday. First responders at the scene reported 13 people had been killed, including six children and four women.The operation, which residents say lasted over two hours, jolted the sleepy village of Atmeh near the Turkish border — an area dotted with camps for internally displaced people from Syria’s civil war. The target of the raid was unclear.“The mission was successful,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in a brief statement. “There were no U.S. casualties. More information will be provided as it becomes available.”A journalist on assignment for The Associated Press and several residents said they saw body parts scattered near the site of the raid, a house in Syria’s rebel-held Idlib province. Most residents spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, and said the raid involved helicopters, explosions and machine-gun fire.It was the largest raid in the province since the 2019&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-syria-ap-top-news-international-news-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-2c2c48e64f934d329c72a7af3dc284b1">Trump-era U.S. assault</a>&nbsp;that killed the Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.An Iraqi intelligence official in contact with the U.S.-led coalition said Thursday’s target was a high-ranking militant leader whose identity will be released by the White House later in the day. Information suggests he may be al-Baghdadi’s successor, the current IS leader known as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, the official added. He spoke on condition of anonymity to divulge sensitive information.Idlib is broadly controlled by Turkey-backed fighters, but is also an al-Qaida stronghold and home to several of its top operatives. Other militants, including extremists from the rival IS group, have also found refuge in the region.“The first moments were terrifying, no one knew what was happening,” said Jamil el-Deddo, a resident of a nearby refugee camp. “We were worried it could be Syrian aircraft, which brought back memories of barrel bombs that used to be dropped on us,” he added, referring to crude explosives-filled containers used by President Bashar Assad’s forces against opponents during the Syrian conflict.The top floor of the two-story house, surrounded by olive trees, was almost totally destroyed in Thursday’s raid, with the ceiling and walls knocked out.Blood could be seen on the walls and floor of the remaining structure, which contained a wrecked bedroom with a child’s wooden crib on the floor. On one damaged wall, a blue plastic swing for children was still hanging. The kitchen was blackened with fire damage.The opposition-run Syrian Civil Defense, first responders also known as the White Helmets, said 13 people were killed in shelling and clashes that ensued after U.S. the commando raid. They included six children and four women, it said.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, also said the strike killed 13 people, including four children and two women. Ahmad Rahhal, a citizen journalist who visited the site, reported seeing 12 bodies.The Pentagon provided no details on who was the target of the raid, or if any combatants or civilians on the ground were killed or injured.Residents and activists described witnessing a large ground assault, with U.S. forces using megaphones urging women and children to leave the area.Omar Saleh, a nearby resident, said the doors and windows of his house started to rattle to the sound of low-flying aircraft at 1:10 a.m. local time. He then heard a man, speaking Arabic with an Iraqi or Saudi accent through a loudspeaker, urging women to surrender or leave the area.“This went on for 45 minutes. There was no response. Then the machine gun fire erupted,” Saleh said. He said the firing continued for two hours, as aircraft circled low over the area.Others reported hearing at least one major explosion during the operation. A U.S. official said that one of the helicopters in the raid suffered a mechanical problem and had to be blown up on the ground. The U.S. official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the military operation.The Observatory said troops for the U.S.-led coalition using helicopters landed in the area and attacked a house. It said the force clashed with fighters on the ground. Taher al-Omar, an Idlib-based activist, also said he witnessed clashes between fighters and the U.S. force.The military operation got attention on social media, with tweets from the region describing helicopters firing around the building near Atmeh. Flight-tracking data also suggested that multiple drones were circling the city of Sarmada and the village of Salwah, just north of the raid’s location.The U.S. has in the past used drones to kill top al-Qaida operatives in Idlib, which at one point was home to the group’s biggest concentration of leaders since the days of Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. The fact that special forces landed on the ground suggest the target was believed to be of high value.A similar attack in Pakistan, in 2011, killed bin Laden.Thursday’s clandestine operation came as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-syria-middle-east-racial-injustice-iraq-e0c9bdc100f6ad74fb52d63a188ac978">Islamic State group was reasserting itself</a>&nbsp;in Syria and Iraq, carrying out some of its biggest attacks since it was defeated in 2019. In recent weeks and months, the group has launched a series of operations in the region, including a 10-day assault late last month to seize a prison in northeastern Syria.A U.S.-backed Kurdish-led force said more than 120 of their fighters and prison workers died in the effort to thwart the IS plot, whose goal appeared to free senior IS operatives from the prison. The prison houses at least 3,000 Islamic State group detainees.The attempted prison break was the biggest military operation by the extremist group since IS was defeated and members scattered to havens in 2019. The U.S.-led coalition carried out airstrikes and deployed American personnel in Bradley Fighting Vehicles to the prison area to help the Kurdish forces.At a news conference Monday, an SDF senior official Nowruz Ahmad said the prison assault was part of a broader plot that IS had been preparing for a long time, including attacks on other neighborhoods in northeastern Syria and on the al-Hol camp in the south, which houses thousands of families of IS members.The U.S.-led coalition has targeted high-profile militants on several occasions in recent years, aiming to disrupt what U.S. officials say is a secretive cell known as the Khorasan group that is planning external attacks. A U.S. airstrike killed al-Qaida’s second in command, former bin Laden aide Abu al-Kheir al-Masri, in Syria in 2017.