SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a road-rage shooting.

Just after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting near the intersection of Central and Ridge in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Officers arrived and located a 35-year-old man with a single gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment and is expected to survive.

It is believed that this is a road-rage incident involving two drivers.

Investigators learned that the 35-year-old man was westbound on Central when he got into a verbal altercation with another westbound driver. The two vehicles stopped on Central, and the 35-year-old exited his vehicle and approached the other driver’s window.

An altercation ensued, which led to a single shot being fired. The man then returned to his vehicle, and both drivers pulled into the parking lot on the NW corner of Central and Ridge, where they made contact with officers. 

The second driver, a 39-year-old male uniformed security officer, remained on scene and was questioned by detectives.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643837260688.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a road-rage shooting.Just after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting near the intersection of Central and Ridge in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.Officers arrived and located a 35-year-old man with a single gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment and is expected to survive.It is believed that this is a road-rage incident involving two drivers.Investigators learned that the 35-year-old man was westbound on Central when he got into a verbal altercation with another westbound driver. The two vehicles stopped on Central, and the 35-year-old exited his vehicle and approached the other driver’s window.An altercation ensued, which led to a single shot being fired. The man then returned to his vehicle, and both drivers pulled into the parking lot on the NW corner of Central and Ridge, where they made contact with officers. The second driver, a 39-year-old male uniformed security officer, remained on scene and was questioned by detectives.

Police: Man wounded during Kansas road-rage shooting

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man, who surrendered after a police standoff Monday night has been charged in the Jan. 14 fatal shooting on an Amtrak train while it was in Lee's Summit, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Marquise L. Webb, 21, faces charges of Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Vehicle Hijacking and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.

According to court records, police were alerted on Jan. 14, 2022, of an armed carjacking behind Konrad's Kitchen, 302 SW Main Street in Lee's Summit. 

About the same time, police also were alerted to a shooting on the Amtrak train and the suspect had exited the train in Lee's Summit.

 The train continued onto Independence, where the victim identified as&nbsp;30-year-old Richie T. Aaron Jr. of Independence, Missouri was pronounced deceased.

The victim in the carjacking told police a man opened his driver's door while parked. Amtrak officials could not account for the defendant's whereabouts but a check of his phone showed the phone moving directly toward Kansas City after the Lee's Summit stop, rather than traveling on to Independence. 

On Monday night, police executed a search warrant at a Kansas City apartment in the 1600 block of Bushman Drive, after searching for addresses associated with the defendant's phone. During this activity, police saw Webb attempting to exit from the rear of the apartment. The defendant and police pointed guns. After more than four hours, the defendant surrendered without incident.

Webb is being held on a $500,000 cash bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643803193805.png" alt="Webb-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Webb-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man, who surrendered after a police standoff Monday night has been charged in the Jan. 14 fatal shooting on an Amtrak train while it was in Lee's Summit, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Marquise L. Webb, 21, faces charges of Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Vehicle Hijacking and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.According to court records, police were alerted on Jan. 14, 2022, of an armed carjacking behind Konrad's Kitchen, 302 SW Main Street in Lee's Summit. About the same time, police also were alerted to a shooting on the Amtrak train and the suspect had exited the train in Lee's Summit. The train continued onto Independence, where the victim identified as&nbsp;30-year-old Richie T. Aaron Jr. of Independence, Missouri was pronounced deceased.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642418758538.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the shooting -photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the shooting -photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>The victim in the carjacking told police a man opened his driver's door while parked. Amtrak officials could not account for the defendant's whereabouts but a check of his phone showed the phone moving directly toward Kansas City after the Lee's Summit stop, rather than traveling on to Independence. On Monday night, police executed a search warrant at a Kansas City apartment in the 1600 block of Bushman Drive, after searching for addresses associated with the defendant's phone. During this activity, police saw Webb attempting to exit from the rear of the apartment. The defendant and police pointed guns. After more than four hours, the defendant surrendered without incident.Webb is being held on a $500,000 cash bond.

Kansas City man charged in fatal shooting on Amtrak train

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Television personality and car enthusiast Jay Leno will be the featured speaker at the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet in April.

That announcement was made this afternoon in, perhaps, the most fitting location in Salina, The Garage, the automotive museum at 134 S. Fourth Street, that is scheduled to open later this month.

Leno will be in Salina on April 8 through a partnership between the chamber, the Stiefel Theatre, and The Garage. Upon arrival, he will attend a by-invitation-only event at The Garage to tour Salina’s newest experience. Then he will address those gathered for the chamber banquet, speaking about his business experiences and motor hobbies. 

Following the chamber banquet, Leno is scheduled to perform a stand-up show at the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue. Tickets for the Stiefel performance will go on sale at noon Friday and may be purchased by contacting the Stiefel at 785-827-1998 or at <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org/tickets">www.stiefeltheatre.org/tickets</a>.

“This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that has aligned for Salina, through the partnership, this series of unique events are geared at supporting each of the host organization missions and elevating Salina’s community profile overall. Jay Leno checks the box as one of the world’s biggest car enthusiasts, one of the biggest names in entertainment, and one of the best comedians in America history!” said Travis Young, 2022 chamber board chair. “It is a great opportunity to highlight and celebrate all of the momentum that Salina has, and we look forward to his positive and humorous message at the banquet.” 

The chamber plans to have a membership networking reception from 3-5:45 p.m. April 8 in the Great Plains Manufacturing Hall of Tony's Pizza Events Center, 800 The Midway. This reception, however, won't be a typical chamber gathering. The reception will be customized this year with a car show featuring an array of special automobiles owned by chamber members and will be sponsored by Holm Automotive Salina/Abilene.

The chamber annual banquet will follow in the Tony's Pizza Events Center arena. Seating will consist of tables of eight. Tickets for chamber members are $65 per person for the banquet. Tickets for non-members are $90 per person for the banquet. Chamber members and the general public can make reservations by calling the chamber office ticket hotline at 785-827-9310, ext. 123, stopping by the chamber office, 120 W. Ash, or emailing Sandy Cole at <a href="mailto:scole@salinakansas.org">scole@salinakansas.org</a>. Tickets will be reserved on a first-come first-served basis.

The banquet will include remarks by outgoing Chamber Chair Jeff Maes and incoming Chair Travis Young, as well as a brief review of the chamber’s 2021 accomplishments, and the address by Leno.

Speaker information provided by the chamber

Leno is an acclaimed TV late night show host, admired stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, much-in-demand corporate speaker, TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and mechanic, and philanthropist. He is widely characterized as “the hardest working man in show business.”

Leno’s late night television ratings domination included two decades as the host of the No. 1-rated The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. After the first two years Leno never lost a single ratings year in which he served as host.

This fall, Leno brings back the classic game show You Bet Your Life. This comedy show wrapped in a game show will feature two strangers paired up to play for prize money by answering trivia questions correctly. Co-hosted by Kevin Eubanks and produced by Tom Werner&nbsp;and David Hurwitz, You Bet Your Life will deliver a fun series filled with the warmth and laughter that America needs now.

Leno also currently produces and is host of the CNBC primetime series Jay Leno’s Garage now in its sixth season. Jay Leno’s Garage explores the world of cars, never forgetting that it’s the people behind the wheel who provide the real stories. The series debuted in October 2015 and delivered CNBC’s most-watched first season in network history. New episodes of Jay Leno’s Garage can be viewed on CNBC or CNBC On Demand throughout the year.

The show is an outgrowth of Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube channel which Leno produces. The channel has an international following on the internet and has garnered several Emmy Awards and nominations for Outstanding Special Class–Short-Format Nonfiction Programs.

His new product line, Jay Leno’s Garage Advanced Vehicle Care launched in December of 2016 and has been well received by the automotive industry worldwide. Products are available on www.lenosgarage.com.

Along with his CNBC show, Leno is currently on air with various other television series, including Last Man Standing. When he’s not on TV, Leno performs more than 100 stand-up shows annually across the country and internationally, participates in numerous charity and corporate events, does voice-overs for animated series, pens children’s books, and writes a monthly column in various automotive magazines. And in his “spare” time, he enjoys working on his collection of classic cars and motorcycles. In fact, he has built a number of cars, including an acclaimed eco-car in his eco-friendly green garage.

Leno is the recipient of many honors, including Emmy, People’s Choice, and TV Guide awards, Harris Poll selection as most popular star on television, the Hasty Pudding Award at Harvard University, The Mark Twain Prize, recipient of the Patriot Award given by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and being the first person to drive the pace car of all major NASCAR events.

He and his wife, Mavis, an ardent human rights activist, live in Los Angeles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643842927844.jpeg" alt="Jay Leno. Photo courtesy Salina Area Chamber of Commerce" />
 <figcaption>Jay Leno. Photo courtesy Salina Area Chamber of Commerce</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostTelevision personality and car enthusiast Jay Leno will be the featured speaker at the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet in April.That announcement was made this afternoon in, perhaps, the most fitting location in Salina, The Garage, the automotive museum at 134 S. Fourth Street, that is scheduled to open later this month.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643842992290.jpeg" alt="Jane Gates, executive director of the Stiefel Theatre, explains how all of the Leno events came together as, from left, Eric Brown, Salina Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, Tom Pestinger, a supporter of the Stiefel Theatre and The Garage, Michelle Peck, executive director of The Garage, and Travis&nbsp; Young, incoming chamber chair, look on. With support and encouragement from the rest of the group, Gates was able to successfully negotiate the three-event Leno package. Salina Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Jane Gates, executive director of the Stiefel Theatre, explains how all of the Leno events came together as, from left, Eric Brown, Salina Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, Tom Pestinger, a supporter of the Stiefel Theatre and The Garage, Michelle Peck, executive director of The Garage, and Travis&nbsp; Young, incoming chamber chair, look on. With support and encouragement from the rest of the group, Gates was able to successfully negotiate the three-event Leno package. Salina Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Leno will be in Salina on April 8 through a partnership between the chamber, the Stiefel Theatre, and The Garage. Upon arrival, he will attend a by-invitation-only event at The Garage to tour Salina’s newest experience. Then he will address those gathered for the chamber banquet, speaking about his business experiences and motor hobbies. Following the chamber banquet, Leno is scheduled to perform a stand-up show at the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue. Tickets for the Stiefel performance will go on sale at noon Friday and may be purchased by contacting the Stiefel at 785-827-1998 or at <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org/tickets">www.stiefeltheatre.org/tickets</a>.“This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that has aligned for Salina, through the partnership, this series of unique events are geared at supporting each of the host organization missions and elevating Salina’s community profile overall. Jay Leno checks the box as one of the world’s biggest car enthusiasts, one of the biggest names in entertainment, and one of the best comedians in America history!” said Travis Young, 2022 chamber board chair. “It is a great opportunity to highlight and celebrate all of the momentum that Salina has, and we look forward to his positive and humorous message at the banquet.” The chamber eventThe chamber plans to have a membership networking reception from 3-5:45 p.m. April 8 in the Great Plains Manufacturing Hall of Tony's Pizza Events Center, 800 The Midway. This reception, however, won't be a typical chamber gathering. The reception will be customized this year with a car show featuring an array of special automobiles owned by chamber members and will be sponsored by Holm Automotive Salina/Abilene.The chamber annual banquet will follow in the Tony's Pizza Events Center arena. Seating will consist of tables of eight. Tickets for chamber members are $65 per person for the banquet. Tickets for non-members are $90 per person for the banquet. Chamber members and the general public can make reservations by calling the chamber office ticket hotline at 785-827-9310, ext. 123, stopping by the chamber office, 120 W. Ash, or emailing Sandy Cole at <a href="mailto:scole@salinakansas.org">scole@salinakansas.org</a>. Tickets will be reserved on a first-come first-served basis.The banquet will include remarks by outgoing Chamber Chair Jeff Maes and incoming Chair Travis Young, as well as a brief review of the chamber’s 2021 accomplishments, and the address by Leno.Speaker information provided by the chamberLeno is an acclaimed TV late night show host, admired stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, much-in-demand corporate speaker, TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and mechanic, and philanthropist. He is widely characterized as “the hardest working man in show business.”Leno’s late night television ratings domination included two decades as the host of the No. 1-rated The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. After the first two years Leno never lost a single ratings year in which he served as host.This fall, Leno brings back the classic game show You Bet Your Life. This comedy show wrapped in a game show will feature two strangers paired up to play for prize money by answering trivia questions correctly. Co-hosted by Kevin Eubanks and produced by Tom Werner&nbsp;and David Hurwitz, You Bet Your Life will deliver a fun series filled with the warmth and laughter that America needs now.Leno also currently produces and is host of the CNBC primetime series Jay Leno’s Garage now in its sixth season. Jay Leno’s Garage explores the world of cars, never forgetting that it’s the people behind the wheel who provide the real stories. The series debuted in October 2015 and delivered CNBC’s most-watched first season in network history. New episodes of Jay Leno’s Garage can be viewed on CNBC or CNBC On Demand throughout the year.The show is an outgrowth of Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube channel which Leno produces. The channel has an international following on the internet and has garnered several Emmy Awards and nominations for Outstanding Special Class–Short-Format Nonfiction Programs.His new product line, Jay Leno’s Garage Advanced Vehicle Care launched in December of 2016 and has been well received by the automotive industry worldwide. Products are available on www.lenosgarage.com.Along with his CNBC show, Leno is currently on air with various other television series, including Last Man Standing. When he’s not on TV, Leno performs more than 100 stand-up shows annually across the country and internationally, participates in numerous charity and corporate events, does voice-overs for animated series, pens children’s books, and writes a monthly column in various automotive magazines. And in his “spare” time, he enjoys working on his collection of classic cars and motorcycles. In fact, he has built a number of cars, including an acclaimed eco-car in his eco-friendly green garage.Leno is the recipient of many honors, including Emmy, People’s Choice, and TV Guide awards, Harris Poll selection as most popular star on television, the Hasty Pudding Award at Harvard University, The Mark Twain Prize, recipient of the Patriot Award given by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and being the first person to drive the pace car of all major NASCAR events.He and his wife, Mavis, an ardent human rights activist, live in Los Angeles.

Jay Leno to speak at chamber banquet in Salina, perform at Stiefel 

WASHINGTON —Senator Bob Dole was laid to rest in a private ceremony at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/#/">Arlington National Cemetery&nbsp;</a>Wednesday afternoon..

&nbsp;At the invitation of Senator Elizabeth Dole,&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly attended the&nbsp;memorial&nbsp;and&nbsp;graveside&nbsp;services. The private memorial service was held at Memorial Chapel at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in&nbsp;Fort Myer,&nbsp;Virginia.&nbsp;Graveside services followed at Arlington National Cemetery.&nbsp;

Dole, who died December 5 at age 98, was wounded during World War II, served nearly 36 years in Congress and was GOP Senate leader for more than a decade. In February 2021, he announced he’d been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

Dole lay in state at the U.S. Capitol, as President Biden and others gathered&nbsp; to pay tribute to an “American giant” who served the country in war and in politics.

He was honored December 10, during&nbsp;a service at Washington National Cathedral&nbsp;as a senator who could practice bare-knuckle partisan politics without losing civility and as a patriot whose grit overcame serious wounds from combat in World War II in Italy in 1945.&nbsp;

Another tribute for Dole followed at the World War II Memorial in Washington — a monument to Dole’s generation that he worked to get built. Among the speakers was actor Tom Hanks.

Dole's casket was then flown to Salina and transported west to his boyhood hometown of Russell for a service at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.&nbsp; 

Then a final service was held in the state capital of Topeka, where Dole briefly served in the Kansas House in the 1950s. The list of speakers was bipartisan, including Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas’ two Republican U.S. senators, Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643831695704.png" alt="Senator Bob Dole's historic service to our nation was reflected with a series of honors during his burial ceremony. The Senator's casket was carried by a horse-drawn caisson that served as a military wagon during the Civil War.&nbsp;A military band and two marching platoons served as escorts. During the service, seven riflemen fired a three rifle volley. Solemnly, a bugler played Taps." />
 <figcaption>Senator Bob Dole's historic service to our nation was reflected with a series of honors during his burial ceremony. The Senator's casket was carried by a horse-drawn caisson that served as a military wagon during the Civil War.&nbsp;A military band and two marching platoons served as escorts. During the service, seven riflemen fired a three rifle volley. Solemnly, a bugler played Taps.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Senator Bob Dole was laid to rest in a private ceremony at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/#/">Arlington National Cemetery&nbsp;</a>Wednesday afternoon..<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643828827851.png" alt="“God took the initiative on this Kansas athlete doing his thing. A God so wise, he knew what was best for Bob. A God so powerful he could do what was best for Bob. What a life.” - Rear Admiral Barry C. Black, Chaplain, U.S. Senate -photo Dole Foundation" />
 <figcaption>“God took the initiative on this Kansas athlete doing his thing. A God so wise, he knew what was best for Bob. A God so powerful he could do what was best for Bob. What a life.” - Rear Admiral Barry C. Black, Chaplain, U.S. Senate -photo Dole Foundation</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;At the invitation of Senator Elizabeth Dole,&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly attended the&nbsp;memorial&nbsp;and&nbsp;graveside&nbsp;services. The private memorial service was held at Memorial Chapel at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in&nbsp;Fort Myer,&nbsp;Virginia.&nbsp;Graveside services followed at Arlington National Cemetery.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643828608003.png" alt="Memorial Chapel at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Fort Myer-photo Elizabeth Dole Foundation" />
 <figcaption>Memorial Chapel at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Fort Myer-photo Elizabeth Dole Foundation</figcaption>
 </figure>Dole, who died December 5 at age 98, was wounded during World War II, served nearly 36 years in Congress and was GOP Senate leader for more than a decade. In February 2021, he announced he’d been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639062673023.png" alt="photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Dole lay in state at the U.S. Capitol, as President Biden and others gathered&nbsp; to pay tribute to an “American giant” who served the country in war and in politics.He was honored December 10, during&nbsp;a service at Washington National Cathedral&nbsp;as a senator who could practice bare-knuckle partisan politics without losing civility and as a patriot whose grit overcame serious wounds from combat in World War II in Italy in 1945.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639259156725.jpeg" alt="Service for Dole at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell &nbsp;- photo by James Bell" />
 <figcaption>Service for Dole at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell &nbsp;- photo by James Bell</figcaption>
 </figure>Another tribute for Dole followed at the World War II Memorial in Washington — a monument to Dole’s generation that he worked to get built. Among the speakers was actor Tom Hanks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639191714517.jpeg" alt="Dole's casket arriving at the airport in Salina photo by Leslie Eikleberry&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Dole's casket arriving at the airport in Salina photo by Leslie Eikleberry&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Dole's casket was then flown to Salina and transported west to his boyhood hometown of Russell for a service at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.&nbsp; Then a final service was held in the state capital of Topeka, where Dole briefly served in the Kansas House in the 1950s. The list of speakers was bipartisan, including Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas’ two Republican U.S. senators, Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran.-The Associated Press contributed to this report

Bob Dole laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army said Wednesday it will&nbsp;<a href="https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN34562-ARMY_DIR_2022-02-000-WEB-1.pdf" target="_blank">immediately begin discharging soldiers who have refused to get the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine</a>, putting more than 3,300 service members at risk of being thrown out soon.

The Army’s announcement makes it the final military service to lay out its discharge policy for vaccine refusers. The Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy have already discharged active-duty troops or entry-level personnel at boot camps for refusing the shots. So far, the Army has not discharged any.

According to data released by the Army last week, more than 3,300 soldiers have refused to get the vaccine. The Army has said that more than 3,000 soldiers have been issued official written reprimands, which suggests they are already identified in the disciplinary process, and some of them could be among the first to be discharged.

The Pentagon has ordered all service members — active-duty, National Guard and Reserves — to get the vaccine, saying it is critical to maintaining the health and readiness of the force. COVID-19 cases continue to surge around the country as a result of the omicron variant.

Roughly 97% of all Army soldiers have gotten at least one shot. More than 3,000 have requested medical or religious exemptions.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth issued the directive Wednesday ordering commanders to begin involuntary separation proceedings against those who have refused the shots and do not have a pending or approved exemption.

“Army readiness depends on soldiers who are prepared to train, deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars,” she said. “Unvaccinated soldiers present risk to the force and jeopardize readiness. We will begin involuntary separation proceedings for Soldiers who refuse the vaccine order and are not pending a final decision on an exemption.”

The order includes active-duty soldiers, reserves serving on active duty, and cadets at the Military Academy at West Point, its prepatory school and ROTC.

The detailed order said soldiers will be discharged for misconduct, and noted that those who are eligible to retire may do so before July 1.

Overall, nearly 600 Marines, airmen and sailors have been thrown out of the military or dismissed from entry-level training at boot camps as of last week.

The military services have been going through a methodical process to deal with those who refuse the vaccine as well as those who request medical, administrative or religious exemptions. The reviews require counseling with medical personnel and chaplains as well as senior commanders.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635861962000.png" alt="The Pentagon has ordered all service members — active-duty, National Guard and Reserves — to get the vaccine- photo Dept. of Defense.&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The Pentagon has ordered all service members — active-duty, National Guard and Reserves — to get the vaccine- photo Dept. of Defense.&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army said Wednesday it will&nbsp;<a href="https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN34562-ARMY_DIR_2022-02-000-WEB-1.pdf" target="_blank">immediately begin discharging soldiers who have refused to get the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine</a>, putting more than 3,300 service members at risk of being thrown out soon.The Army’s announcement makes it the final military service to lay out its discharge policy for vaccine refusers. The Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy have already discharged active-duty troops or entry-level personnel at boot camps for refusing the shots. So far, the Army has not discharged any.According to data released by the Army last week, more than 3,300 soldiers have refused to get the vaccine. The Army has said that more than 3,000 soldiers have been issued official written reprimands, which suggests they are already identified in the disciplinary process, and some of them could be among the first to be discharged.The Pentagon has ordered all service members — active-duty, National Guard and Reserves — to get the vaccine, saying it is critical to maintaining the health and readiness of the force. COVID-19 cases continue to surge around the country as a result of the omicron variant.Roughly 97% of all Army soldiers have gotten at least one shot. More than 3,000 have requested medical or religious exemptions.Army Secretary Christine Wormuth issued the directive Wednesday ordering commanders to begin involuntary separation proceedings against those who have refused the shots and do not have a pending or approved exemption.“Army readiness depends on soldiers who are prepared to train, deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars,” she said. “Unvaccinated soldiers present risk to the force and jeopardize readiness. We will begin involuntary separation proceedings for Soldiers who refuse the vaccine order and are not pending a final decision on an exemption.”The order includes active-duty soldiers, reserves serving on active duty, and cadets at the Military Academy at West Point, its prepatory school and ROTC.The detailed order said soldiers will be discharged for misconduct, and noted that those who are eligible to retire may do so before July 1.Overall, nearly 600 Marines, airmen and sailors have been thrown out of the military or dismissed from entry-level training at boot camps as of last week.The military services have been going through a methodical process to deal with those who refuse the vaccine as well as those who request medical, administrative or religious exemptions. The reviews require counseling with medical personnel and chaplains as well as senior commanders.

Army: 3,300 soldiers who refused vaccine are set for discharge

Bill uses state tax dollars to finance transfers of at-risk, low-income students

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/02/house-reopens-book-on-releasing-public-education-funding-to-aid-private-school-students/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Two-term Marais Des 
Cygnes Valley school board member Caleb McNally put in simple terms 
potential harm of a Kansas House bill allowing low-income or at-risk 
students to use state tax dollars earmarked for their public education 
to finance enrollment at a private school.

McNally said 55% of students in the small eastern Kansas district would be eligible for the proposed school-choice program.

“If 55% of them left — even 25% of them left — it would kill our 
school district,” he said. “It would disappear. We’d fold up shop.”

Advocates and critics of House Bill 2553 shared their views Tuesday 
with members of the House K-12 Education Budget Committee. Their 
attention centered on legislation creating education savings accounts 
administered by the state treasurer’s office that would funnel state tax
 dollars to eligible students who leave public schools.

The bill would establish for the 2023-2024 school year a system of 
financial support for full- or part-time students shifting to accredited
 or nonaccredited private schools. Under the bill, students choosing to 
be homeschooled wouldn’t qualify. The initiative would cover a 
transferring student’s tuition and fees, textbook, transportation, 
therapy, tutoring or testing costs as well as tuition for online 
learning programs or college courses.

The bill would mandate the state pay interest to participating 
families on average daily balances in school-choice accounts, but the 
cash used to pay private educational expenses would be tax-free.

The Kansas State Department of Education couldn’t estimate what 
portion of the 450,000 students attending K-12 public schools across the
 state would make use of the Student Empowerment Program. The program 
would likely redirect millions of dollars annually in education funding 
to private schools. It could cost millions of dollars for the state to 
establish and administer. Eventually, the incentive designed to bolster 
enrollment at private schools would shrink state aid to public 
education.

During the 2021 legislative session, the Kansas House approved a 
comparable bill 65-58. It wasn’t considered by the Kansas Senate.

Jason Bedrick, director of policy at EdChoice, said the House 
committee should dismiss a doomsday complaint of school-choice skeptics 
that such programs significantly harmed public education. EdChoice is a 
nonprofit based in Indianapolis dedicated to increasing appropriation of
 tax dollars to families choosing to send children to private or 
parochial schools rather than to public schools.

“Thirty years ago this may have been a legitimate concern,” said 
Bedrick, a former analyst at the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational
 Freedom. “We now have decades of experience showing that actually the 
exact opposite phenomenon happens.”

There is an urgent need for the Legislature to financially support 
students eligible for the free- or reduced-lunch program or eligible for
 at-risk educational services as they transitioned to private schools, 
said Dave Trabert, of the Kansas Policy Institute.

He said KPI commissioned a survey of 500 registered voters that 
indicated seven of 10 respondents agreed taxpayer-funded accounts should
 be available to parents if they were convinced the public school 
district wasn’t meeting academic needs of children.

“Sadly,” Trabert said, “intransigence on the part of state and local 
education officials offers little hope of material improvement without 
legislative intervention.”

Democratic state Treasurer Lynn Rogers, who the bill specified as 
administrator of the private-school choice program, rattled off concerns
 about details of the bill. He said it would be difficult to launch the 
program by the proposed Jan. 1 deadline. The state’s ABLE Act, which 
created state savings accounts for people with disabilities, required 
two years of preparation before the first accounts opened in 2017.

“That program is substantially smaller than the one proposed here in 
terms of the number of potential accounts and the amount of rulemaking 
necessary for the program,” he said.

Rogers, who served from 2001 to 2017 on the Wichita school board, 
said the bill would limit the state treasurer to auditing one private 
school each year selected at random. He said that restraint would be 
insufficient to deter fraudulent activity. For contrast, he said, public
 school districts undergo routine budget, special education and 
transportation expenditure audits. It’s important to hold schools 
receiving state tax dollars to the same standards, he said.

“Other states have had substantial issues with improper use of 
funds,” Rogers said. “In Arizona, audits have found that funds were 
spent on food, clothes, entertainment products, gift cards, a haunted 
house, and at a family planning clinic. Arizona has recovered less than 
10% of misused funds under their program.”

Michael Poppa, executive director of the Mainstream Coalition, 
challenged the wisdom of directing tax funding to parochial schools. The
 Kansas Constitution guarantees a suitable education to children, he 
said, but the legislation would force taxpayers to foot the bill for 
children enrolled at private schools that discriminated against children
 based on religion, sexual orientation, academic standing, behavioral 
issues and special-education status.

“House Bill 2550 is a transparent attempt to fund private educational
 institutions with public tax money,” Poppa said. ” Though it is 
portrayed as a bill for students in need, there are no guarantees that 
these students will actually benefit. This bill instead allows for a 
broad cross section of private and religious schools to benefit.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643821703075.png" alt="Marais Des Cygnes Valley school board member Caleb McNally said the district would be ruined by a Kansas House bill allowing at-risk or low-income students to enroll in private schools with use of state tax dollars. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Marais Des Cygnes Valley school board member Caleb McNally said the district would be ruined by a Kansas House bill allowing at-risk or low-income students to enroll in private schools with use of state tax dollars. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Bill uses state tax dollars to finance transfers of at-risk, low-income students</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/02/house-reopens-book-on-releasing-public-education-funding-to-aid-private-school-students/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Two-term Marais Des 
Cygnes Valley school board member Caleb McNally put in simple terms 
potential harm of a Kansas House bill allowing low-income or at-risk 
students to use state tax dollars earmarked for their public education 
to finance enrollment at a private school.McNally said 55% of students in the small eastern Kansas district would be eligible for the proposed school-choice program.“If 55% of them left — even 25% of them left — it would kill our 
school district,” he said. “It would disappear. We’d fold up shop.”Advocates and critics of House Bill 2553 shared their views Tuesday 
with members of the House K-12 Education Budget Committee. Their 
attention centered on legislation creating education savings accounts 
administered by the state treasurer’s office that would funnel state tax
 dollars to eligible students who leave public schools.The bill would establish for the 2023-2024 school year a system of 
financial support for full- or part-time students shifting to accredited
 or nonaccredited private schools. Under the bill, students choosing to 
be homeschooled wouldn’t qualify. The initiative would cover a 
transferring student’s tuition and fees, textbook, transportation, 
therapy, tutoring or testing costs as well as tuition for online 
learning programs or college courses.The bill would mandate the state pay interest to participating 
families on average daily balances in school-choice accounts, but the 
cash used to pay private educational expenses would be tax-free.The Kansas State Department of Education couldn’t estimate what 
portion of the 450,000 students attending K-12 public schools across the
 state would make use of the Student Empowerment Program. The program 
would likely redirect millions of dollars annually in education funding 
to private schools. It could cost millions of dollars for the state to 
establish and administer. Eventually, the incentive designed to bolster 
enrollment at private schools would shrink state aid to public 
education.During the 2021 legislative session, the Kansas House approved a 
comparable bill 65-58. It wasn’t considered by the Kansas Senate.<h2>School choice champions</h2>Jason Bedrick, director of policy at EdChoice, said the House 
committee should dismiss a doomsday complaint of school-choice skeptics 
that such programs significantly harmed public education. EdChoice is a 
nonprofit based in Indianapolis dedicated to increasing appropriation of
 tax dollars to families choosing to send children to private or 
parochial schools rather than to public schools.“Thirty years ago this may have been a legitimate concern,” said 
Bedrick, a former analyst at the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational
 Freedom. “We now have decades of experience showing that actually the 
exact opposite phenomenon happens.”There is an urgent need for the Legislature to financially support 
students eligible for the free- or reduced-lunch program or eligible for
 at-risk educational services as they transitioned to private schools, 
said Dave Trabert, of the Kansas Policy Institute.He said KPI commissioned a survey of 500 registered voters that 
indicated seven of 10 respondents agreed taxpayer-funded accounts should
 be available to parents if they were convinced the public school 
district wasn’t meeting academic needs of children.“Sadly,” Trabert said, “intransigence on the part of state and local 
education officials offers little hope of material improvement without 
legislative intervention.”<h2>A few objections</h2>Democratic state Treasurer Lynn Rogers, who the bill specified as 
administrator of the private-school choice program, rattled off concerns
 about details of the bill. He said it would be difficult to launch the 
program by the proposed Jan. 1 deadline. The state’s ABLE Act, which 
created state savings accounts for people with disabilities, required 
two years of preparation before the first accounts opened in 2017.“That program is substantially smaller than the one proposed here in 
terms of the number of potential accounts and the amount of rulemaking 
necessary for the program,” he said.Rogers, who served from 2001 to 2017 on the Wichita school board, 
said the bill would limit the state treasurer to auditing one private 
school each year selected at random. He said that restraint would be 
insufficient to deter fraudulent activity. For contrast, he said, public
 school districts undergo routine budget, special education and 
transportation expenditure audits. It’s important to hold schools 
receiving state tax dollars to the same standards, he said.“Other states have had substantial issues with improper use of 
funds,” Rogers said. “In Arizona, audits have found that funds were 
spent on food, clothes, entertainment products, gift cards, a haunted 
house, and at a family planning clinic. Arizona has recovered less than 
10% of misused funds under their program.”Michael Poppa, executive director of the Mainstream Coalition, 
challenged the wisdom of directing tax funding to parochial schools. The
 Kansas Constitution guarantees a suitable education to children, he 
said, but the legislation would force taxpayers to foot the bill for 
children enrolled at private schools that discriminated against children
 based on religion, sexual orientation, academic standing, behavioral 
issues and special-education status.“House Bill 2550 is a transparent attempt to fund private educational
 institutions with public tax money,” Poppa said. ” Though it is 
portrayed as a bill for students in need, there are no guarantees that 
these students will actually benefit. This bill instead allows for a 
broad cross section of private and religious schools to benefit.”

Kan. House reopens book on funding aid for private school students

By JOHN WILSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/02/by-ending-kansas-sales-tax-on-food-our-state-can-live-up-to-its-ideals-and-help-those-in-need/">Courtesy the Kansas Reflector</a>

This Saturday, we celebrated Kansas 
Day, noting our state’s beginnings and contributions to this nation. We 
have much to be proud of — our fields are rich with wheat, corn and 
soybeans, and our pastures are filled with cattle. The state has ample 
food produced right here in our communities.

But despite Kansas’ food production, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/kansas">1 in 8 Kansans and 1 in 6 Kansas kids go hungry</a>. It’s a staggering statistic, and one we have to address.

The issue isn’t new, but it certainly 
has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, food 
insecurity in Kansas increased from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasappleseed.org/uploads/2/1/9/2/21929892/covid-19_and_hunger_in_kansas.pdf">12.1% to 14.1% during 2020</a>. That’s an extra 58,000 people in our state who likely don’t know where their next meal may come from.

Right now, we pay the second-highest 
state sales tax on food in the entire nation. This legislative session, 
lawmakers have the opportunity to help these hungry Kansas families put 
food on their tables. Four bills have already been introduced — two in 
the House and two in the Senate — that would eliminate the 6.5% state 
sales tax on food.

The change would save an average 
Kansas family of four approximately $500 each year. For families living 
on low or moderate wages, the effect will be particularly significant, 
helping them stretch their budgets to pay for more nutritious foods and 
other basic necessities.

The proposal has broad bipartisan support, as we captured in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kac.org/coalition_letter_now_is_the_time_to_end_the_state_sales_tax_on_food">letter directed to legislative leadership</a>
 signed by hundreds of organizations and individuals across the state. 
These organizations include food pantries, child care agencies, food 
security groups, faith-based organizations and many others united by a 
single goal: ending the state sales tax on food in Kansas.

Ending this tax will help those in 
large cities pay for historically high housing costs. It will help the 
economies of rural border communities. It will help families feed their 
children. It will help individuals who must live off a single low-wage 
income.

While we may differ in our reasonings 
for supporting this policy, we stand united in our efforts to make this 
change a reality for all Kansans.

Last week, the House Taxation Committee held hearings on two bills — <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2484/">HB 2484</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2487/">HB 2487</a> — that would eliminate this tax. On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation held hearings on <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb339/">SB 339</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb342/">SB 342</a>,
 which are identical to the House bills. We need these lawmakers to 
commit to a straightforward, fiscally responsible bill that will improve
 the lives of all Kansans, and they must not add expensive items that 
will harm the state budget that we have worked so hard to repair over 
the past five years.

The state of Kansas predicts a 
considerable surplus for the coming fiscal year, and we know Kansas can 
afford to completely end this tax and still pay its bills in the long 
term. Lawmakers on these committees must continue to center these bills 
on benefitting every person that lives in Kansas — not as vehicles to 
benefit the wealthy and well-connected.

We’re pleased to note, too, that the 
Legislature is considering two other bills that would directly help 
Kansans in need become eligible for food assistance. HB 2215 would 
remove the ban on individuals with felony-level drug convictions from 
receiving SNAP benefits, helping them focus on integrating into society 
rather than on suffering from a lack of food.

<a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2525/">HB 2525</a>
 would remove the child support cooperation requirement to access food 
and child care assistance, as well as exempt students from the 
20-hour-per-week work requirement. This bill would help remove 
counterproductive barriers so parents can provide for their children, 
concentrate on school or work, and achieve financial stability and 
independence.

These are just three immediate ways 
the Kansas Legislature can help hungry Kansans put food on their tables.
 I’m grateful for how far these bills have come just in the first month 
of the 2022 legislative session. However, the work is just beginning.

I hope the bipartisan support these 
ideas have in the Legislature remains strong this session. Kansas Action
 for Children and our partners from across the state will do all we can 
to see them become law.

John Wilson is president of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kac.org/">Kansas Action for Children</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643832060218.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN WILSON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/02/by-ending-kansas-sales-tax-on-food-our-state-can-live-up-to-its-ideals-and-help-those-in-need/">Courtesy the Kansas Reflector</a>This Saturday, we celebrated Kansas 
Day, noting our state’s beginnings and contributions to this nation. We 
have much to be proud of — our fields are rich with wheat, corn and 
soybeans, and our pastures are filled with cattle. The state has ample 
food produced right here in our communities.But despite Kansas’ food production, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/kansas">1 in 8 Kansans and 1 in 6 Kansas kids go hungry</a>. It’s a staggering statistic, and one we have to address.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The issue isn’t new, but it certainly 
has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, food 
insecurity in Kansas increased from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasappleseed.org/uploads/2/1/9/2/21929892/covid-19_and_hunger_in_kansas.pdf">12.1% to 14.1% during 2020</a>. That’s an extra 58,000 people in our state who likely don’t know where their next meal may come from.Right now, we pay the second-highest 
state sales tax on food in the entire nation. This legislative session, 
lawmakers have the opportunity to help these hungry Kansas families put 
food on their tables. Four bills have already been introduced — two in 
the House and two in the Senate — that would eliminate the 6.5% state 
sales tax on food.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643832129973.png" alt="Emily Festch, of Kansas Action for Children, testified about the sales tax on food before a Senate panel Tuesday. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Emily Festch, of Kansas Action for Children, testified about the sales tax on food before a Senate panel Tuesday. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>The change would save an average 
Kansas family of four approximately $500 each year. For families living 
on low or moderate wages, the effect will be particularly significant, 
helping them stretch their budgets to pay for more nutritious foods and 
other basic necessities.The proposal has broad bipartisan support, as we captured in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kac.org/coalition_letter_now_is_the_time_to_end_the_state_sales_tax_on_food">letter directed to legislative leadership</a>
 signed by hundreds of organizations and individuals across the state. 
These organizations include food pantries, child care agencies, food 
security groups, faith-based organizations and many others united by a 
single goal: ending the state sales tax on food in Kansas.Ending this tax will help those in 
large cities pay for historically high housing costs. It will help the 
economies of rural border communities. It will help families feed their 
children. It will help individuals who must live off a single low-wage 
income.While we may differ in our reasonings 
for supporting this policy, we stand united in our efforts to make this 
change a reality for all Kansans.Last week, the House Taxation Committee held hearings on two bills — <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2484/">HB 2484</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2487/">HB 2487</a> — that would eliminate this tax. On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation held hearings on <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb339/">SB 339</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb342/">SB 342</a>,
 which are identical to the House bills. We need these lawmakers to 
commit to a straightforward, fiscally responsible bill that will improve
 the lives of all Kansans, and they must not add expensive items that 
will harm the state budget that we have worked so hard to repair over 
the past five years.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643832151625.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The state of Kansas predicts a 
considerable surplus for the coming fiscal year, and we know Kansas can 
afford to completely end this tax and still pay its bills in the long 
term. Lawmakers on these committees must continue to center these bills 
on benefitting every person that lives in Kansas — not as vehicles to 
benefit the wealthy and well-connected.We’re pleased to note, too, that the 
Legislature is considering two other bills that would directly help 
Kansans in need become eligible for food assistance. HB 2215 would 
remove the ban on individuals with felony-level drug convictions from 
receiving SNAP benefits, helping them focus on integrating into society 
rather than on suffering from a lack of food.<a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2525/">HB 2525</a>
 would remove the child support cooperation requirement to access food 
and child care assistance, as well as exempt students from the 
20-hour-per-week work requirement. This bill would help remove 
counterproductive barriers so parents can provide for their children, 
concentrate on school or work, and achieve financial stability and 
independence.These are just three immediate ways 
the Kansas Legislature can help hungry Kansans put food on their tables.
 I’m grateful for how far these bills have come just in the first month 
of the 2022 legislative session. However, the work is just beginning.I hope the bipartisan support these 
ideas have in the Legislature remains strong this session. Kansas Action
 for Children and our partners from across the state will do all we can 
to see them become law.John Wilson is president of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kac.org/">Kansas Action for Children</a>.

OPINION: By ending Kan. food tax, our state can live up to its ideals

GEARY COUNTY—Geary County Sheriff Daniel Jackson responded to criticism from County Commissioner Trish Giordano on the use of sick leave as part of federal pandemic legislation that limited the amount for each employee to 80 hours total.

According to Giordano, "fifty county employees went over the 80-hour limit, some receiving several hundred hours while still accumulating sick leave and vacation. In total, employees used 7,000 hours of admin leave, 6,500 of those hours were in the Sheriff’s office. I checked with the Riley County police department which also runs their jail, and employs more than double what Geary County does; they used only 459 hours in the same time frame."

As an elected official I have a moral obligation to be completely honest and transparent with the citizens I serve. Since being elected Sheriff I have gone to great lengths to ensure that whatever the situation was, good or bad, as a Sheriff’s Office we were completely transparent about how we handled the situation. After reading Commissioner Trish Giordano’s editorial I again feel obligated to get all the information surrounding a situation to the citizens who deserve to know the complete truth.

When the pandemic began we started to have employee’s get exposed to covid positive citizens while conducting their assigned duties. I went to the County Commissioners, Keith Asher, Brad Schultz, and Charles Stimatze to discuss allowing the employee’s to use admin time when under KDHE and health department mandated quarantine or isolation. We all agreed that this was the right thing to do, that an employee should not be punished because of the pandemic and forced off work times. This had nothing to do with the emergency sick leave act mentioned in Commissioner Giordano’s editorial, and also did not have an 80 hour cap to it.

In Commissioner Giordano’s editorial she indicated that 50 county employee’s went over the 80 hour limit and that 6500 hours of the time were in the Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office did use 6500 hours of admin time, but it was only 27 of the 114 Sheriff’s Office employees that went over 80 hours. And now for the rest of the story….

Of the 27 employee’s that went over 80 hours, two were involved in an officer involved shooting and were on mandated admin leave for 106 hours until cleared on the shooting. One of these employees then went on to contract covid and had another KDHE mandated isolation period. The other Deputy caught covid on one occasion and had a family member become covid positive requiring two more KDHE mandated quarantines.

When we experienced our first spike in cases across Geary County, we also had our first outbreak in the jail. At this point the courts were closed as well. I made the decision to close the front office of the jail and get all nonessential employees out of the office. This resulted in 7 administrative employees being sent home on 80 hours of admin time. These employees were not sick and not on vacation, they were ordered home to help in our containment of the outbreak in the jail. Each of these 7 employees experienced at least one more, and some two and three more KDHE mandated quarantines or isolation periods.

During this same outbreak we also closed our VIN and Process Service sections. This resulted in 5 more employees who were sent home from work for 120 hours due to the outbreak in the jail and the spike in Geary County.

Three of the employees who went over the 80 hours were employees who were experiencing serious health issues when the pandemic began. These employees worked up to the point that there Doctors advised that a covid exposure could be deadly for them. Two of these three employees had not worked for the Sheriff’s Office for very long and did not have leave or vacation hours to cover them. These three employees accounted for 1380 hours of the admin leave used at the Sheriff’s Office. All of these employees have fully recovered, returned to work and are still valued employees of the Sheriff’s Office now. This would not have happened were it not for admin leave.

The other 10 employees of the Sheriff’s Office who exceeded 80 hours each had multiple KDHE mandated isolations or quarantines due to covid exposures while at work and interacting with covid positive citizens, becoming covid positive because of exposures at work, or family members being positive for covid.

I monitored our use of admin time continually and I assure you there was nothing excessive or abusive about how the Sheriff’s Office used admin time in response to the covid pandemic. Commissioner Giordano said the admin leave was created to prevent people who do not have leave to take to be able to be paid during the pandemic. That is only part of the reason it was used. It was also used to prevent employees from burning through all their leave and sick time due to KDHE mandated isolations and quarantines. It was also used to allow us to send nonessential people home during outbreaks, at our direction. In other words so we didn’t have to do sporadic nonpaid layoffs during times when we were trying to control outbreaks.

Shortly after Commissioner Giordano was elected she asked me if I had been monitoring the admin use at the Sheriff’s Office and I told her I had. She never asked me about it again. If she would have asked I would have been happy to explain everything as I have in this letter. The problem with that is the explanation has a tendency to take away some of the splash in the media that just throwing the 6500 number out by itself gets.

I stand by the decisions made by the previous commission and me in reference to employees, admin leave and covid. To do otherwise would have been a disservice to our most important asset, our employees, and to the citizens we are sworn to protect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643823793493.jpeg" alt="Geary Co. Sheriff Daniel Jackson" />
 <figcaption>Geary Co. Sheriff Daniel Jackson</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY—Geary County Sheriff Daniel Jackson responded to criticism from County Commissioner Trish Giordano on the use of sick leave as part of federal pandemic legislation that limited the amount for each employee to 80 hours total.According to Giordano, "fifty county employees went over the 80-hour limit, some receiving several hundred hours while still accumulating sick leave and vacation. In total, employees used 7,000 hours of admin leave, 6,500 of those hours were in the Sheriff’s office. I checked with the Riley County police department which also runs their jail, and employs more than double what Geary County does; they used only 459 hours in the same time frame."In his response, Sheriff Jackson wrote:As an elected official I have a moral obligation to be completely honest and transparent with the citizens I serve. Since being elected Sheriff I have gone to great lengths to ensure that whatever the situation was, good or bad, as a Sheriff’s Office we were completely transparent about how we handled the situation. After reading Commissioner Trish Giordano’s editorial I again feel obligated to get all the information surrounding a situation to the citizens who deserve to know the complete truth.When the pandemic began we started to have employee’s get exposed to covid positive citizens while conducting their assigned duties. I went to the County Commissioners, Keith Asher, Brad Schultz, and Charles Stimatze to discuss allowing the employee’s to use admin time when under KDHE and health department mandated quarantine or isolation. We all agreed that this was the right thing to do, that an employee should not be punished because of the pandemic and forced off work times. This had nothing to do with the emergency sick leave act mentioned in Commissioner Giordano’s editorial, and also did not have an 80 hour cap to it.In Commissioner Giordano’s editorial she indicated that 50 county employee’s went over the 80 hour limit and that 6500 hours of the time were in the Sheriff’s Office.The Sheriff’s Office did use 6500 hours of admin time, but it was only 27 of the 114 Sheriff’s Office employees that went over 80 hours. And now for the rest of the story….Of the 27 employee’s that went over 80 hours, two were involved in an officer involved shooting and were on mandated admin leave for 106 hours until cleared on the shooting. One of these employees then went on to contract covid and had another KDHE mandated isolation period. The other Deputy caught covid on one occasion and had a family member become covid positive requiring two more KDHE mandated quarantines.When we experienced our first spike in cases across Geary County, we also had our first outbreak in the jail. At this point the courts were closed as well. I made the decision to close the front office of the jail and get all nonessential employees out of the office. This resulted in 7 administrative employees being sent home on 80 hours of admin time. These employees were not sick and not on vacation, they were ordered home to help in our containment of the outbreak in the jail. Each of these 7 employees experienced at least one more, and some two and three more KDHE mandated quarantines or isolation periods.During this same outbreak we also closed our VIN and Process Service sections. This resulted in 5 more employees who were sent home from work for 120 hours due to the outbreak in the jail and the spike in Geary County.Three of the employees who went over the 80 hours were employees who were experiencing serious health issues when the pandemic began. These employees worked up to the point that there Doctors advised that a covid exposure could be deadly for them. Two of these three employees had not worked for the Sheriff’s Office for very long and did not have leave or vacation hours to cover them. These three employees accounted for 1380 hours of the admin leave used at the Sheriff’s Office. All of these employees have fully recovered, returned to work and are still valued employees of the Sheriff’s Office now. This would not have happened were it not for admin leave.The other 10 employees of the Sheriff’s Office who exceeded 80 hours each had multiple KDHE mandated isolations or quarantines due to covid exposures while at work and interacting with covid positive citizens, becoming covid positive because of exposures at work, or family members being positive for covid.I monitored our use of admin time continually and I assure you there was nothing excessive or abusive about how the Sheriff’s Office used admin time in response to the covid pandemic. Commissioner Giordano said the admin leave was created to prevent people who do not have leave to take to be able to be paid during the pandemic. That is only part of the reason it was used. It was also used to prevent employees from burning through all their leave and sick time due to KDHE mandated isolations and quarantines. It was also used to allow us to send nonessential people home during outbreaks, at our direction. In other words so we didn’t have to do sporadic nonpaid layoffs during times when we were trying to control outbreaks.Shortly after Commissioner Giordano was elected she asked me if I had been monitoring the admin use at the Sheriff’s Office and I told her I had. She never asked me about it again. If she would have asked I would have been happy to explain everything as I have in this letter. The problem with that is the explanation has a tendency to take away some of the splash in the media that just throwing the 6500 number out by itself gets.I stand by the decisions made by the previous commission and me in reference to employees, admin leave and covid. To do otherwise would have been a disservice to our most important asset, our employees, and to the citizens we are sworn to protect.

Kan. sheriff responds to commissioner's comments on sick leave

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 8,952 to a total of 739,622, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The state reported 41 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,577.

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

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

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

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

TOPEKA — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 8,952 to a total of 739,622, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 41 additional COVID-19 deaths for a total of 7,577.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643825670907.png" alt="Wednesday February 2, 2022 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday February 2, 2022 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: 8,900 new cases, 41 more COVID-19 deaths

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A man accused in the sex assault of two women he gave rides home made. his first appearance in court Tuesday.

Marlon Montoya, 40, Wichita, is charged with aggravated kidnapping, 2 counts of rape, 2 counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated assault, and 2 counts of battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

Shortly before 12:30 a.m. on December 31, police were dispatched to the 1000 block of N Topeka in Wichita for a rape report, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

On arrival, they located a 54-year-old woman who reported being battered and forced to have sexual intercourse with an unknown male she had met earlier that day after she had asked him for a ride.

&nbsp;On January 22, officers were dispatched to the area of 13th and Ohio in Wichita for an assault call. On arrival, officers located a 63-year-old female victim who reported being battered and sexually assaulted by an unknown male after obtaining a ride from him, according to Macy.

Investigators were able to identify&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20000550">Montoya</a>&nbsp;as the suspect in these cases.

Police located him in the 1000 block of E MacArthur on January 27th and took him into custody. He was transported to the Sedgwick County <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20000550">Jail </a>.

His next court appearance is Feb.14. He remains jailed on bond of $250,000, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643404495160.png" alt="Montoya-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Montoya-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— A man accused in the sex assault of two women he gave rides home made. his first appearance in court Tuesday.Marlon Montoya, 40, Wichita, is charged with aggravated kidnapping, 2 counts of rape, 2 counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated assault, and 2 counts of battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;Shortly before 12:30 a.m. on December 31, police were dispatched to the 1000 block of N Topeka in Wichita for a rape report, according to Officer Trevor Macy.On arrival, they located a 54-year-old woman who reported being battered and forced to have sexual intercourse with an unknown male she had met earlier that day after she had asked him for a ride.&nbsp;On January 22, officers were dispatched to the area of 13th and Ohio in Wichita for an assault call. On arrival, officers located a 63-year-old female victim who reported being battered and sexually assaulted by an unknown male after obtaining a ride from him, according to Macy.Investigators were able to identify&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20000550">Montoya</a>&nbsp;as the suspect in these cases. Police located him in the 1000 block of E MacArthur on January 27th and took him into custody. He was transported to the Sedgwick County <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20000550">Jail </a>.His next court appearance is Feb.14. He remains jailed on bond of $250,000, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man charged with kidnapping, rape of women he gave rides

BRUSSELS (AP) — President Joe Biden is sending about 2,000 U.S.-based troops to Poland and Germany and shifting 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania as demonstrations of American commitments to allies on NATO’s eastern flank amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?517673-1/pentagon-announces-troop-deployments-europe-amid-rising-russia-ukraine-tensions">Click here to watch&nbsp;</a>the Pentagon briefing on the troop deployment

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the soon-to-deploy U.S. forces are intended to temporarily bolster U.S. and allied defensive positions and will not enter Ukraine.

“These are not permanent moves,” he said, stressing that the purpose is to reassure allies at a time of heightened tension over Russia’s buildup of an estimated 100,000 troops along Ukraine’s borders. Kirby said the Russian buildup has continued, even in the last 24 hours, despite U.S. urgings that it deescalate.

The newly announced U.S. troop deployments are in line with expectations based on Biden administration efforts to reassure allies and demonstrate U.S. resolve without undermining efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis.

The U.S. already has several thousand troops in Poland, and Romania is host to a NATO missile defense system that Russia considers a threat to its security. Biden notably has not sent American military reinforcements to the three Baltic countries on NATO’s eastern flank — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — that are former states of the Soviet Union.

Of the 2,000 deploying from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, about 1,700 are members of the 82nd Airborne Division infantry brigade, who will go to Poland. The other 300 are with the 18th Airborne Corps and will deploy to Germany as what the Pentagon called a “joint task force-capable headquarters.”

Poland’s Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak wrote on Twitter that the U.S. deployment to his country is “a strong signal of solidarity in response to the situation in Ukraine.”

The 1,000 U.S. troops going to Romania are members of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment based at Vilseck, Germany. They will augment the approximately 900 U.S. troops already in Romania, Kirby said.

The cavalry deployment’s purpose is to “deter aggression and enhance our defensive capabilities in frontline allied states during this period of elevated risk,” the Pentagon said in a separate written statement.

“It’s important that we send a strong signal to Mr. Putin and to the world” of the U.S commitment to NATO, Kirby said.

He said France has decided it, too, will send troop reinforcements to Romania under NATO command, and he noted that a number of other European NATO countries are considering adding forces on NATO’s eastern flank.

NATO has been beefing up its defenses around allies in eastern Europe since late last year. Denmark, for example, said it was sending a frigate and F-16 warplanes to Lithuania, and Spain was sending four fighter jets to Bulgaria and three ships to the Black Sea to join NATO naval forces. The Netherlands plans to send two F-35 fighter aircraft to Bulgaria in April and is putting a ship and land-based units on standby for NATO’s Response Force.

Biden has said he will not put American troops in Ukraine to fight any Russian incursion, although the United States is supplying Ukraine with weapons to defend itself and seeking to reassure allies in Eastern Europe that Washington will fulfill its treaty obligation to defend them in the event they are attacked. Ukraine is not a NATO member and therefore the U.S. has no treaty obligation to come to its defense.

The military moves come amid stalled talks with Russia over its military buildup at Ukraine’s borders. And they underscore growing fears across Europe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to invade Ukraine. Smaller NATO countries on the alliance’s eastern flank worry they could be next, although Russia has said it has no intention of initiating conflict and is willing to continue diplomatic efforts.

Biden had said recently that he intended to provide additional U.S. forces to NATO allies in Eastern Europe as reassurance of an American commitment to treaty allies.

The Pentagon also has put about 8,500 U.S.-based troops on higher alert for possible deployment to Europe as additional reassurance to allies, and officials have indicated the possibility that additional units could be placed on higher alert soon. The U.S. already has between 75,000 and 80,000 troops in Europe as permanently stationed forces and as part of regular rotations in places such as Poland.

Washington and Moscow have been at loggerheads over Ukraine, with little sign of a diplomatic path forward. Kirby on Wednesday confirmed the validity of a document reported by a Spanish newspaper that indicated the United States could be willing to enter into an agreement with Russia to ease tensions over missile deployments in Europe if Moscow steps back from the brink in Ukraine.

The daily El Pais published two documents that Kirby confirmed were written replies from the United States and NATO last week to Russia’s proposals for a new security arrangement in Europe. The U.S. State department declined to comment on them.

In reference to the second document, NATO said that it never comments on “alleged leaks.” But the text closely reflects statements made to the media last week by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg as he laid out the 30-nation military organization’s position on Russia’s demands.

The U.S. document, marked as a confidential “non-paper,” said the United States would be willing to discuss in consultation with its NATO partners “a transparency mechanism to confirm the absences of Tomahawk cruise missiles at Aegis Ashore sites in Romania and Poland.”

That would happen on condition that Russia “offers reciprocal transparency measures on two ground-launched missiles bases of our choosing in Russia.”

Full Coverage:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia-Ukraine</a>

Aegis Ashore is a system for defending against short- or intermediate-range missiles. Russia argues the site in Romania could be easily adapted to fire cruise missiles instead of interceptors, which ram their target and do not carry warheads, a claim that Washington has denied.

Putin again mentioned the possibility Tuesday, saying that “there are MK-41 launchers there that could be configured for firing Tomahawks.” He said they “are offensive systems that could reach thousands of kilometers into our territory. Isn’t that a threat to us?”

Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine have mounted in recent months, after Putin deployed more than 100,000 troops to areas near Ukraine’s borders, including in neighboring Belarus, backed by tanks, artillery, helicopters and warplanes. Russian officials have insisted that Moscow has no intention of invading.

In his first public remarks on the standoff in more than a month, Putin on Tuesday accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia’s central security demands but he said that Moscow is willing to talk more to ease tensions over Ukraine.

His remarks suggested that a potential Russian invasion may not be imminent and that at least one more round of diplomacy is likely.

After talks in Kyiv Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte underlined that “it is essential for dialogue to continue.” If not, Rutte, said, “it is clear that further aggression against Ukraine will have serious consequences.”

At a NATO summit in 2008, NATO leaders said that they welcomed Ukraine’s and Georgia’s aspirations to join NATO but decided not to offer either country a formal path to eventual membership.

Russia invaded Georgia later that year and in 2014 annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. Around 14,000 people have been killed in the conflict that still simmers in eastern Ukraine. Their membership plans have been on hold for years, although NATO continues to support them and promote reforms.

BRUSSELS (AP) – President Joe Biden is sending approximately 2,000 troops from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Poland and Germany this week and sending part of an infantry Stryker squadron of roughly 1,000 troops based in Germany to Romania, a senior administration official said Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Live-Events/fbclid/IwAR03WV9_Xdoy_GOgDxBSlHr-XU4qPKU0xZAfVImLwVWBfj4t_OXbWxu3O7w/#/?currentVideo=28044">Click here to watch </a>the Pentagon briefing on the troop deployment

The military moves come amid stalled talks with Russia over its military buildup at Ukraine’s borders. The move underscores growing fears across Europe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to invade Ukraine – and smaller NATO countries on the eastern flank worry they could be next.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss military moves not yet announced.

NewsNation Now said The Pentagon is expected to announce that the troops will deploy “in the coming days,” U.S. officials&nbsp;told CNN.

It also said the Biden administration had previously announced&nbsp;8,500 troops would be on alert&nbsp;but did not commit to deploying them.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. has taken into account the risk that any troop movements could inflame the situation, but stressed the need for America to reassure its allies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643813161501.png" alt="Pallets of ammunition, weapons and other equipment bound for Ukraine are processed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware on Jan. 27.Photo By: Mauricio Campino, Air Force courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense " />
 <figcaption>Pallets of ammunition, weapons and other equipment bound for Ukraine are processed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware on Jan. 27.Photo By: Mauricio Campino, Air Force courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense </figcaption>
 </figure>BRUSSELS (AP) — President Joe Biden is sending about 2,000 U.S.-based troops to Poland and Germany and shifting 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania as demonstrations of American commitments to allies on NATO’s eastern flank amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Pentagon said Wednesday.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?517673-1/pentagon-announces-troop-deployments-europe-amid-rising-russia-ukraine-tensions">Click here to watch&nbsp;</a>the Pentagon briefing on the troop deploymentPentagon press secretary John Kirby said the soon-to-deploy U.S. forces are intended to temporarily bolster U.S. and allied defensive positions and will not enter Ukraine.“These are not permanent moves,” he said, stressing that the purpose is to reassure allies at a time of heightened tension over Russia’s buildup of an estimated 100,000 troops along Ukraine’s borders. Kirby said the Russian buildup has continued, even in the last 24 hours, despite U.S. urgings that it deescalate.The newly announced U.S. troop deployments are in line with expectations based on Biden administration efforts to reassure allies and demonstrate U.S. resolve without undermining efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis.The U.S. already has several thousand troops in Poland, and Romania is host to a NATO missile defense system that Russia considers a threat to its security. Biden notably has not sent American military reinforcements to the three Baltic countries on NATO’s eastern flank — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — that are former states of the Soviet Union.Of the 2,000 deploying from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, about 1,700 are members of the 82nd Airborne Division infantry brigade, who will go to Poland. The other 300 are with the 18th Airborne Corps and will deploy to Germany as what the Pentagon called a “joint task force-capable headquarters.”Poland’s Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak wrote on Twitter that the U.S. deployment to his country is “a strong signal of solidarity in response to the situation in Ukraine.”The 1,000 U.S. troops going to Romania are members of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment based at Vilseck, Germany. They will augment the approximately 900 U.S. troops already in Romania, Kirby said.The cavalry deployment’s purpose is to “deter aggression and enhance our defensive capabilities in frontline allied states during this period of elevated risk,” the Pentagon said in a separate written statement.“It’s important that we send a strong signal to Mr. Putin and to the world” of the U.S commitment to NATO, Kirby said.He said France has decided it, too, will send troop reinforcements to Romania under NATO command, and he noted that a number of other European NATO countries are considering adding forces on NATO’s eastern flank.NATO has been beefing up its defenses around allies in eastern Europe since late last year. Denmark, for example, said it was sending a frigate and F-16 warplanes to Lithuania, and Spain was sending four fighter jets to Bulgaria and three ships to the Black Sea to join NATO naval forces. The Netherlands plans to send two F-35 fighter aircraft to Bulgaria in April and is putting a ship and land-based units on standby for NATO’s Response Force.Biden has said he will not put American troops in Ukraine to fight any Russian incursion, although the United States is supplying Ukraine with weapons to defend itself and seeking to reassure allies in Eastern Europe that Washington will fulfill its treaty obligation to defend them in the event they are attacked. Ukraine is not a NATO member and therefore the U.S. has no treaty obligation to come to its defense.The military moves come amid stalled talks with Russia over its military buildup at Ukraine’s borders. And they underscore growing fears across Europe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to invade Ukraine. Smaller NATO countries on the alliance’s eastern flank worry they could be next, although Russia has said it has no intention of initiating conflict and is willing to continue diplomatic efforts.Biden had said recently that he intended to provide additional U.S. forces to NATO allies in Eastern Europe as reassurance of an American commitment to treaty allies.The Pentagon also has put about 8,500 U.S.-based troops on higher alert for possible deployment to Europe as additional reassurance to allies, and officials have indicated the possibility that additional units could be placed on higher alert soon. The U.S. already has between 75,000 and 80,000 troops in Europe as permanently stationed forces and as part of regular rotations in places such as Poland.Washington and Moscow have been at loggerheads over Ukraine, with little sign of a diplomatic path forward. Kirby on Wednesday confirmed the validity of a document reported by a Spanish newspaper that indicated the United States could be willing to enter into an agreement with Russia to ease tensions over missile deployments in Europe if Moscow steps back from the brink in Ukraine.The daily El Pais published two documents that Kirby confirmed were written replies from the United States and NATO last week to Russia’s proposals for a new security arrangement in Europe. The U.S. State department declined to comment on them.In reference to the second document, NATO said that it never comments on “alleged leaks.” But the text closely reflects statements made to the media last week by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg as he laid out the 30-nation military organization’s position on Russia’s demands.The U.S. document, marked as a confidential “non-paper,” said the United States would be willing to discuss in consultation with its NATO partners “a transparency mechanism to confirm the absences of Tomahawk cruise missiles at Aegis Ashore sites in Romania and Poland.”That would happen on condition that Russia “offers reciprocal transparency measures on two ground-launched missiles bases of our choosing in Russia.”Full Coverage:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia-Ukraine</a>Aegis Ashore is a system for defending against short- or intermediate-range missiles. Russia argues the site in Romania could be easily adapted to fire cruise missiles instead of interceptors, which ram their target and do not carry warheads, a claim that Washington has denied.Putin again mentioned the possibility Tuesday, saying that “there are MK-41 launchers there that could be configured for firing Tomahawks.” He said they “are offensive systems that could reach thousands of kilometers into our territory. Isn’t that a threat to us?”Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine have mounted in recent months, after Putin deployed more than 100,000 troops to areas near Ukraine’s borders, including in neighboring Belarus, backed by tanks, artillery, helicopters and warplanes. Russian officials have insisted that Moscow has no intention of invading.In his first public remarks on the standoff in more than a month, Putin on Tuesday accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia’s central security demands but he said that Moscow is willing to talk more to ease tensions over Ukraine.His remarks suggested that a potential Russian invasion may not be imminent and that at least one more round of diplomacy is likely.After talks in Kyiv Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte underlined that “it is essential for dialogue to continue.” If not, Rutte, said, “it is clear that further aggression against Ukraine will have serious consequences.”At a NATO summit in 2008, NATO leaders said that they welcomed Ukraine’s and Georgia’s aspirations to join NATO but decided not to offer either country a formal path to eventual membership.Russia invaded Georgia later that year and in 2014 annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. Around 14,000 people have been killed in the conflict that still simmers in eastern Ukraine. Their membership plans have been on hold for years, although NATO continues to support them and promote reforms.___BRUSSELS (AP) – President Joe Biden is sending approximately 2,000 troops from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Poland and Germany this week and sending part of an infantry Stryker squadron of roughly 1,000 troops based in Germany to Romania, a senior administration official said Wednesday.<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Live-Events/fbclid/IwAR03WV9_Xdoy_GOgDxBSlHr-XU4qPKU0xZAfVImLwVWBfj4t_OXbWxu3O7w/#/?currentVideo=28044">Click here to watch </a>the Pentagon briefing on the troop deploymentThe military moves come amid stalled talks with Russia over its military buildup at Ukraine’s borders. The move underscores growing fears across Europe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to invade Ukraine – and smaller NATO countries on the eastern flank worry they could be next.The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss military moves not yet announced.NewsNation Now said The Pentagon is expected to announce that the troops will deploy “in the coming days,” U.S. officials&nbsp;told CNN.It also said the Biden administration had previously announced&nbsp;8,500 troops would be on alert&nbsp;but did not commit to deploying them.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. has taken into account the risk that any troop movements could inflame the situation, but stressed the need for America to reassure its allies.

🎥 Biden orders US troops to Europe amid Russia standoff

Walmart, Gatik seek state law forbidding cities, counties from imposing bans

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/01/senate-takes-up-legislation-to-regulate-use-of-autonomous-vehicles-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Retail giant Walmart and
 autonomous vehicle developer Gatik requested Tuesday passage of a bill 
legalizing use in Kansas of driverless vehicles on fixed 
business-to-business routes and preempting cities or counties from 
establishing roadblocks to deployment of self-driving vehicles.

Forty-four states have created a framework for regulating autonomous 
vehicles, but Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma are among six states without
 laws permitting operation of these cars and trucks. The bill before the
 Kansas Senate would create a statewide policy for autonomous vehicles 
not limited to the two companies.

Mike O’Neal, a former Kansas House speaker representing Walmart, said
 technological advances in autonomous vehicles, work by Gatik and 
Walmart on pilot programs in other states and an ongoing national 
shortage of commercial truck drivers made it logical for the Senate 
Transportation Committee to consider Senate Bill 379. The committee 
heard Tuesday from O’Neal and two Gatik employees and scheduled 
testimony from opponents for Wednesday.

“In today’s environment, particularly, the timing of this is very 
good because we know we’re having some pretty serious supply-chain 
issues and companies are having to innovate,” O’Neal said.

Under the Senate bill, cities and counties couldn’t enact ordinances 
to regulate or prohibit use of autonomous vehicles. The legislation 
would restrict automated vehicles in Kansas to the “middle mile” of 
shipping, which refers to movement of goods between fixed points along 
repeatable routes. The bill wouldn’t allow the automated driving systems
 on highways unless the vehicle complied with state traffic laws and met
 federal safety standards.

Owners of autonomous vehicles would be required to maintain insurance
 and the remote operator would have to possess a commercial driving 
license. O’Neal said Walmart and Gatik would agree to an amendment 
requiring an individual, or safety driver, to be in the truck cab during
 transit for an initial 12 months of operation in Kansas to establish a 
safety record.

Members of the Senate committee raised questions about reliance on 
satellites to guide the trucks, issues of vehicle insurance, 
responsibility for traffic tickets, vehicle response during inclement 
weather and whether a Kansas pilot program would be useful.

“This is a lot of innovation,” said Sen. Jeff Pittman, D-Leavenworth.
 “This is new and is something we’re considering, but we have safety 
concerns as you can imagine.”

Sen. Dennis Pyle, R-Hiawatha, requested maps of roads the Walmart 
trucks operated on and information about where Gatik autonomous 
components and vehicles were assembled.

Richard Steiner, director of policy and regulation for Gatik, said 
the company was founded in 2017 and the firm had been collaborating with
 Walmart since 2019. Gatik medium-duty vehicles have been operating with
 Walmart in Arkansas and Louisiana. Gatik also has engaged in use of 
automated vehicles in Texas, California and Ontario, Canada.

“We have achieved a 100% safety record,” Steiner said. “We are 
excited about the prospect of investing in Kansas — creating jobs, 
connecting communities with jobs.”

He said the objective was a more efficient method of delivering goods
 through reliance on autonomous box trucks moving along fixed delivery 
routes. This middle-mile zone, or short-haul routes, is the safest 
option for deploying autonomous vehicles for retail shipping, he said.

The Gatik software responds to construction zones, lane closures or 
vehicle accidents by forcing the vehicle to stop and await the decision 
of a technician on how to proceed. Walmart’s trucks in Arkansas are 
electric, but internal combustion engines have been used in Texas. The 
tentative plan would be to operate electric trucks in Kansas, Steiner 
said.

Apeksha Kumarat, chief engineer of Gatik, said an advantage of 
concentrating on the middle mile was a reduction in the volume of data 
required of an autonomous vehicle.

“There is a very high confidence of how the systems will be 
performing on these routes,” she said. “Components such as braking and 
steering and other software components, which are very critical to the 
operation and safety of the system, are duplicated.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643739008630.png" alt="Mike O’Neal, a representative of Walmart, requested the Senate Transportation Committee to approve a bill preventing city and county governments from adopting ordinances forbidding operation of autonomous vehicles. ( (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Mike O’Neal, a representative of Walmart, requested the Senate Transportation Committee to approve a bill preventing city and county governments from adopting ordinances forbidding operation of autonomous vehicles. ( (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Walmart, Gatik seek state law forbidding cities, counties from imposing bans</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/01/senate-takes-up-legislation-to-regulate-use-of-autonomous-vehicles-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Retail giant Walmart and
 autonomous vehicle developer Gatik requested Tuesday passage of a bill 
legalizing use in Kansas of driverless vehicles on fixed 
business-to-business routes and preempting cities or counties from 
establishing roadblocks to deployment of self-driving vehicles.Forty-four states have created a framework for regulating autonomous 
vehicles, but Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma are among six states without
 laws permitting operation of these cars and trucks. The bill before the
 Kansas Senate would create a statewide policy for autonomous vehicles 
not limited to the two companies.Mike O’Neal, a former Kansas House speaker representing Walmart, said
 technological advances in autonomous vehicles, work by Gatik and 
Walmart on pilot programs in other states and an ongoing national 
shortage of commercial truck drivers made it logical for the Senate 
Transportation Committee to consider Senate Bill 379. The committee 
heard Tuesday from O’Neal and two Gatik employees and scheduled 
testimony from opponents for Wednesday.“In today’s environment, particularly, the timing of this is very 
good because we know we’re having some pretty serious supply-chain 
issues and companies are having to innovate,” O’Neal said.Under the Senate bill, cities and counties couldn’t enact ordinances 
to regulate or prohibit use of autonomous vehicles. The legislation 
would restrict automated vehicles in Kansas to the “middle mile” of 
shipping, which refers to movement of goods between fixed points along 
repeatable routes. The bill wouldn’t allow the automated driving systems
 on highways unless the vehicle complied with state traffic laws and met
 federal safety standards.Owners of autonomous vehicles would be required to maintain insurance
 and the remote operator would have to possess a commercial driving 
license. O’Neal said Walmart and Gatik would agree to an amendment 
requiring an individual, or safety driver, to be in the truck cab during
 transit for an initial 12 months of operation in Kansas to establish a 
safety record.Members of the Senate committee raised questions about reliance on 
satellites to guide the trucks, issues of vehicle insurance, 
responsibility for traffic tickets, vehicle response during inclement 
weather and whether a Kansas pilot program would be useful.“This is a lot of innovation,” said Sen. Jeff Pittman, D-Leavenworth.
 “This is new and is something we’re considering, but we have safety 
concerns as you can imagine.”Sen. Dennis Pyle, R-Hiawatha, requested maps of roads the Walmart 
trucks operated on and information about where Gatik autonomous 
components and vehicles were assembled.Richard Steiner, director of policy and regulation for Gatik, said 
the company was founded in 2017 and the firm had been collaborating with
 Walmart since 2019. Gatik medium-duty vehicles have been operating with
 Walmart in Arkansas and Louisiana. Gatik also has engaged in use of 
automated vehicles in Texas, California and Ontario, Canada.“We have achieved a 100% safety record,” Steiner said. “We are 
excited about the prospect of investing in Kansas — creating jobs, 
connecting communities with jobs.”He said the objective was a more efficient method of delivering goods
 through reliance on autonomous box trucks moving along fixed delivery 
routes. This middle-mile zone, or short-haul routes, is the safest 
option for deploying autonomous vehicles for retail shipping, he said.The Gatik software responds to construction zones, lane closures or 
vehicle accidents by forcing the vehicle to stop and await the decision 
of a technician on how to proceed. Walmart’s trucks in Arkansas are 
electric, but internal combustion engines have been used in Texas. The 
tentative plan would be to operate electric trucks in Kansas, Steiner 
said.Apeksha Kumarat, chief engineer of Gatik, said an advantage of 
concentrating on the middle mile was a reduction in the volume of data 
required of an autonomous vehicle.“There is a very high confidence of how the systems will be 
performing on these routes,” she said. “Components such as braking and 
steering and other software components, which are very critical to the 
operation and safety of the system, are duplicated.”

Kan. Senate takes up legislation to regulate use of autonomous vehicles

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — There will be six more weeks of winter. That's the prediction made Wednesday by Punxsutawney Phil after he emerged from his burrow in Pennsylvania to perform his Groundhog Day duties.

Thousands of people gathered at Gobbler’s Knob as members of Punxsutawney Phil’s “inner circle” summoned him from his tree stump at dawn to learn if he'd seen his shadow. 

After Phil’s prediction was announced, the crowd repeatedly chanted “six more weeks!” According to folklore, spring would come early if he didn’t see it.

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — There will be six more weeks of winter. That's the prediction made Wednesday by Punxsutawney Phil after he emerged from his burrow in Pennsylvania to perform his Groundhog Day duties.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aBGOfdx0Nuc?start=13" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Thousands of people gathered at Gobbler’s Knob as members of Punxsutawney Phil’s “inner circle” summoned him from his tree stump at dawn to learn if he'd seen his shadow. After Phil’s prediction was announced, the crowd repeatedly chanted “six more weeks!” According to folklore, spring would come early if he didn’t see it.